Illustrative image.
On August 15, ISIS announced that its fighters had shot down a Russian drone over the Homs desert in Syria’s central region.
The drone, an Orlan-10, was allegedly shot down with heavy machine guns a day earlier. Amaq, ISIS’ main news agency, shared a photo of the drone’s wreckage.
Click to see full-size image.
The Orlan-10 has a flight duration of 16 hours and a range of 140 km. The drone can be equipped with several types of sensors to carry out different missions including reconnaissance, 3D-mapping, electronic warfare and communication relay.
Russian forces were apparently using the drone to keep an eye on the Homs desert, ISIS main stronghold in central Syria. Hundreds of terrorists have been reportedly taking shelter in the region, which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor.
This was the third Orlan-10 to crash in Syria in less than a week and the sixth since the beginning of this year.
-
On February 6, an Orlan-10 drone crashed near the town of Ain Issa in the northern countryside of Raqqa. The drone was allegedly shot down by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
-
On February 7, an Orlan-10 drone crashed in the al-Zawiya Mount in the southern countryside of Idlib. The drone was allegedly shot down by the al-Fateh al-Mubeen Operations Room.
-
On April 4, an Orlan-10 drone crashed near the town of Mashhad Ruhin in the northern countryside of Idlib. The drone allegedly crashed as a result of a technical failure.
-
On August 11, an Orlan-10 drone crashed near the town of al-Matmurah in the northern countryside of al-Hasakah. Both the SDF and Turkish-backed militants were blamed for the incident.
-
Also on August 11, an Orlan-10 drone crashed near the town of al-Ruwaihah in the southern countryside of Idlib. The drone was allegedly shot down by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
The drone’s low cost makes it suitable for reconnaissance missions over high-threat areas, like northwestern, northeastern and central Syria.
Oh wow. They shot down a drone (apparently). I’m sure the Russians are absolutely terrified.