Russian air defenses 'shot down' 100 Bayraktar drones in Ukraine war: Commander

More than 100 Turkish-made Bayraktar-TB drones, supplied to Ukraine, have been destroyed by the Russian army since the start of the war in February last year, a senior Russian military commander said on Monday.

Lieutenant-General Andrey Demin, deputy head of the Russian aerospace force, made the announcement as Moscow celebrated the National Day of Air Defense Forces.

"There are practically no fundamental distinctions between fighting against strategic drones like the US Global Hawk (RQ-4) or Reaper (MQ-9) or Turkey’s operational-tactical Bayraktar-TB and counteraction to crewed aircraft," Demin said in an interview with the Russian army daily Krasnaya Zvezda.

"The elimination of more than 100 Bayraktars, delivered to Ukraine during the whole period of the special military operation is clear evidence of this."

Turkish drones, which were first deployed by Ukraine last year, had emerged as a surprise weapon system that many thought could change the course of war in the favor of Kiev.

In the initial few weeks, in particular, these drones enjoyed the element of surprise and proved instrumental in some high-end missions. According to reports, they also aided the sinking of the Russian flagship Moskva.

However, Russian air defense units are believed to have soon adapted to the Turkish weapon system, decimating them for the past several months.

In December 2022, Russia claimed to have shot down at least 130 Ukrainian drones since the conflict began. The figure has been revised and even downsized in recent months.

Russian fighter jet collides with US Reaper drone over Black Sea: US military

A Russian warplane has collided with a US Reaper drone over the Black Sea, the US military says.

The aerospace commander also referred to the collapse of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea after an encounter with the Russian Su-27 fighter jet last month.

US MQ-9 Reaper drone went into the Black Sea after an encounter with the Russian Su-27 fighter jet last month, triggering concerns of escalation.

Demin said the incident “makes it clear to the Western world community that for Russia’s air defenses, such aerial targets are no problem.”

A similar incident involving a Turkish TB2 drone had been reported just days after the US drone crashed. According to the EurAsian Times, a Su Flanker using jet wash attacked a Turkish Bayraktar, however, the drone survived.

In order to increase the effectiveness of its air defense technology, Russia has been working nonstop on it.

Russia's military has reportedly placed the cutting-edge Niobium radar station on the front lines, which scans the sky within a radius of 500 kilometers while concurrently tracking hundreds of objects or potential targets.

The fact that Russia has improved its defense systems and is shooting down and jamming many drones from Ukraine, experts believe, may be one of the reasons Turkish drones have become less effective and easy prey to the Russian Army.

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