Ultimately, France was lucky that the Su-35 that intercepted their MQ-9 only decided to harass the unmanned system.
Hostilities between France and Russia are reaching unprecedented levels, especially as it appears that the NATO-backed Ukrainians are nearing defeat after years of vicious fighting with neighboring Russia.
As the Ukrainians continue to lose ground, the Americans are increasingly looking for the exits out of the conflict—and more generally away from NATO. Multiple mid-air interceptions have occurred, specifically between French and Russian air forces. Interestingly, while most of which have transpired in or around Europe, one took place on March 2 in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Syria.
A Russian Su-35 fourth-generation++ warplane, according to the French Minister of the Armed Forces engaged in a “deliberate, unprofessional, and aggressive action that is unacceptable.”
Russia and France Are At Each Other’s Throats
The intercept comes in the midst of a very tense situation in Syria, where the new Turkish-backed Islamist government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly jihadist leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani) ordered the Russian Armed Forces to abandon their longtime naval base in Tartus.
In Latakia, the Khmeimim Air Base is the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces’ primary remaining military facility in post-Assad Syria. So far, the new government has not ordered Russia to depart, but questions abound as to whether they will stay put or if they will be made to abandon their last facility in Syria.
The Su-35 in question is believed to have been escorting an Antonov An-124 transport plane that had departed from Khmeimim Air Base and was on its way to Russia. One Western intelligence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, asserted that the drone was collecting intelligence on the disposition of Russia’s forces at Khmeimim, when the Su-35 pilot detected the MQ-9 Reaper, and moved to intercept, engaging in harassing behavior.
France’s drone was ultimately unmolested.
In the aftermath of the intercept, the French published the drone camera footage of the intercept, highlighting the aggressive behavior of the Russian Su-35 pilot. The encounter lasted less than 20 seconds, and the Su-35 and MQ-9 both went on their way. Yet, it represents a clear escalation across the arc of Europe—including across the Mediterranean—between European NATO members, notably the increasingly bellicose France, and Russia.
The MQ-9 Reaper: The World’s Most Famous Combat Drone
The MQ-9 Reaper is an advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, primarily used by the United States Air Force and allies such as the French military. It builds on the legacy of the MQ-1 Predator and represents a significant evolution in drone technology, offering intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and combat operations.
MQ-9 Reapers are built of composite materials, balancing lightweight design with durability for extended missions. The Reaper’s propulsion system is a Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine, producing around 950 horsepower. This gives the drone a maximum speed of approximately 300 miles per hour and a cruising speed of between 170 and 200 miles per hour.
The standard MQ-9 Reaper can stay airborne for over 27 hours. With external fuel tanks, this can be increased to 34 hours, and with other configurations (such as decreasing the drone’s armaments to lower its weight), it can reach up to 42 hours. Reapers operate at around 50,000 feet in the air, allowing it to fly above most weather systems and ensuring safe operations.
A Reaper drone has a maximum payload capacity of 3,850 pounds, including 3,000 pounds of external stores. It features six storage pylons, two inner pylons capable of carrying 1,500 pounds each, two mid-wing pylons carrying 600 pounds each, and two outer pylons with 200 pounds each.
An MQ-9 can carry a variety of precision-guided munitions, including up to 14 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), or GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II bombs.
The drone has a Multi-Spectral Targeting System-B (MTS-B) which integrates infrared sensors for night and low-visibility operations. It has color/monochrome daylight TV cameras, too. MQ-9s possess a laser designator and illuminator for guiding munitions, and a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather targeting and tracking.
The newest and most advanced MQ-9 variants feature the Gorgon Stare wide-area surveillance system, which uses multiple cameras to monitor large areas continuously, or the Lynx multi-node radar for enhanced ISR missions.
The Reaper is operated remotely by a two-person crew: a pilot who flies the aircraft, and a sensor operator who manages the sensors and weapons. A mission intelligence coordinator may also be involved in complex operations. It uses a ground control station (GCS) for takeoff and landing, often located near the operational theater; after the drone is airborne, mission control can be handed off to crews in the United States or elsewhere via satellite link, enabling remote split operations.
The drone’s strengths are well known, thanks to its long service history in the Global War on Terror—during which it devastated the ranks of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan at little risk to U.S. forces. The Reaper has a long loiter time, precision strike capability, and intelligence collection capacity, making it a cornerstone of America’s modern military operations.
But the MQ-9 Can’t Fight Other Planes
However, the MQ-9 is growing older—and its various adversaries are developing more effective countermeasures to the once-untouchable drone. For example, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have repeatedly shot down Reapers since they began their campaign of aggression in the Red Sea in October 2023.
Moreover, in March 2023, a Russian jet conducted an intercept of an MQ-9 over the Black Sea—similar to the intercept that occurred between the Su-35 and the MQ-9 just last week over the Eastern Mediterranean. However, in the former incident, the Russian fighter collided with the Reaper, destroying its propeller and causing it to crash.
All these examples show is that the MQ-9 is highly vulnerable in contested environments. Moreover, many critics maintain that the MQ-9 is less survivable against advanced air defenses compared to manned aircraft or more agile drones.
Ultimately, France was lucky that the Su-35 that intercepted their MQ-9 only decided to harass the unmanned system—as it would have been easy for the Russian bird to destroy the $30 million drone, whatever the eventual consequences.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Mike Mareen.
