Security News > 2021 > December > RAF shoots down 'terrorist drone' over US-owned special ops base in Syria

The RAF has scored its first air-to-air "Kill" - where an aircraft downs an enemy aircraft - for almost 40 years after shooting down a drone over Syria.

"The engagement took place on 14 December when the drone activity was detected above the Al Tanf Coalition base in Syria," said the MoD. "RAF Typhoons conducting routine patrols in the area were tasked to investigate."

A US outpost at the location is used as a base for coalition forces operating in the area, reportedly including British special forces among other nations.

A US think tank published a report 10 days ago describing Al Tanf as a "Relatively low-cost, high-impact tool" for "Disrupting" what it termed "Hostile Iranian activity." It appears the US government may have been thinking about shutting down the remote base.

The RAF's last air-to-air strike resulting in a downed aircraft took place in 1982, when a Phantom interceptor's crew accidentally shot down a Jaguar that was peacefully returning to base after a training flight.

While the RAF has deployed on numerous occasions over the last 40 years, the air force likes to measure its air defence mission through the absence of combat engagements - reasoning that deterring combatants from seeking military control of the skies is better than having to shoot aircraft down.

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https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/12/17/raf_shoots_down_drone_syria/