British Defense Ministry: Typhoon fighter jet shot down an air target in Syria for the first time
The British Typhoon fighter used weapons for the first time to defeat an aerial target in combat. The plane shot down a drone over Syria. This is reported by the UK Defense Journal with reference to the British Ministry of Defense.
The British Defense Ministry said in a statement that a Typhoon fighter shot down an unmanned vehicle in Syria. This attack was the first case of the use of air-to-air weapons by British fighters in Syria. Also, the meeting with the drone was called the first air battle conducted by Typhoon of the Royal Air Force.
The collision occurred over the military base of the international coalition Al-Tanf in Syria on December 14. The Typhoon fighter, which was conducting patrols, shot down the drone. The aircraft used an advanced short-range AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM).
Earlier [...], the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) was tested in the United States. The munition received an updated guidance section and a new System Improvement Program (SIP) 3F software.
In February, The Drive publication suggested that a promising missile for the Su-57 and the Hunter drone would have characteristics comparable to the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 ASRAAM missiles.
