MQ-9 Reaper shot down by Russia’s Wagner PMC

[+GKABS]

Clear footage of MQ-9 Reaper falling down from the skies of Benghazi after having been shot down by Russia’s Wagner PMC.

According to open-source analysis, the downed UAV is a MQ-9 ER UCAV of the US Air Force.

No country other than the U.S. has MQ-9 ER UAVs in its inventory.

 

According to an official by LNA’s Major General Khaled via his affiliated Facebook account, when translated explains that;

“The air defense media of the General Command targeted an unidentified filming drone that entered the skies of Benghazi near Al-Rajma and the Benina base and brought it down.

Subsequent footage released shows what appears to be the drone burning and slowly falling to the ground after being hit by a surface-to-air missile.

Although, the downed drone was burnt beyond recognition on impact, therefore, it may likely be a Chinese Wing Loong, CH-5, or Ch-4 UAV since they all appear similar. However, the landing gear mechanism and engine housing appear very similar to those of the MQ-9 Reaper UAV.

Current MQ-9 Reaper operators are France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, United States.

Any of these NATO countries may have been carrying out surveillance of LNA or Russia’s Wagner groups’ activities in the area without prior authorization from the Libyan government.

Edited August 23, 2022 by GKABS

[macelena]

Wagner guys sure have reasons to be concerned about the USAF. Imagine Milley and Austin feel like pulling a Mattis at some point.

[+Gepard]

Seems to be, that for drones the time is over, that they could operate unharmed. Over Afghanistan or Nagorny Karabakh they were really game changer. In the first time of russian-ukrainian war too. But now, when facing a modern air defence, the losses of the drones climb steadily. Over Donbas area now it is nearly impossible to operate a drone properly. You can say that the success of the drones was a temporary surprise success. If the enemy is aware that drones are in the air and if he has a proper air defence, the drone will not live long.

[bazillius]

Happens sometimes