Russian SU-27 Overmatches MQ-9 Reaper

3/15/2023

In June of 2019, the Iranians using a Khordad SAM shot down a US RQ-4 drone over the Straits of Hormuz. While the US drones can carry AGM-114 Hellfire air to ground, and several different variants of AIM-92 air to air missiles, the SU-27 carries significantly longer range Vympel R-27 and R-73 air to air missiles. The US cannot take out the aggressive Russian fighters because, even though they are within range during the harassment, the next time the Russian planes will merely stay outside the drone's range and shoot it down. The drone was downed on 3-14-2023 local time.

Exploring the Capabilities of Drones in Ballistic Missile Defense

One of the questions that Book III Armageddon delves into is whether drones properly staged in Mongolia can take out nearby Chinese or North Korean ICBMs in the ballistic phase. If the missiles are liquid fueled the BPI might be accomplished anytime within 5 minutes of launch.

Here it is rather clear that the Russians believe that the drones are providing locations for Ukrainian long range forces. Given the range over which the drones can detect ground targets that is entirely possible. Unfortunately, this may just be one more step up the escalation ladder until the political leaders see their control slip into the hands of a more militant field commander. Hard to tell where this stops.