Russia Damaged Another MQ-9 Reaper, Proving Drones Are ‘Easier to Deploy and Easier to Destroy’

A Russian fighter jet severely damaged an American drone in the skies over Syria earlier this month, marking the second such incident this year. The fighter released a stream of burning hot flares in the path of an unmanned MQ-9 Reaper, indicating how automatic, push-button warfare can make it easier to open fire on a target—and potentially dramatically increase the odds an armed incident could spiral out of control. So, we asked an expert to weigh in: is drone warfare becoming too much like a video game, psychologically removing soldiers from their actions? Or is it an example of technology’s ability to reduce human casualties? [View in Browser]( [Popular Mechanics]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [Russia Damaged Another MQ-9 Reaper, Proving Drones Are ‘Easier to Deploy and Easier to Destroy’]( [Russia Damaged Another MQ-9 Reaper, Proving Drones Are ‘Easier to Deploy and Easier to Destroy’]( [Russia Damaged Another MQ-9 Reaper, Proving Drones Are ‘Easier to Deploy and Easier to Destroy’]( A Russian fighter jet severely damaged an American drone in the skies over Syria earlier this month, marking the second such incident this year. The fighter released a stream of burning hot flares in the path of an unmanned MQ-9 Reaper, indicating how automatic, push-button warfare can make it easier to open fire on a target—and potentially dramatically increase the odds an armed incident could spiral out of control. So, we asked an expert to weigh in: is drone warfare becoming too much like a video game, psychologically removing soldiers from their actions? Or is it an example of technology’s ability to reduce human casualties? A Russian fighter jet severely damaged an American drone in the skies over Syria earlier this month, marking the second such incident this year. The fighter released a stream of burning hot flares in the path of an unmanned MQ-9 Reaper, indicating how automatic, push-button warfare can make it easier to open fire on a target—and potentially dramatically increase the odds an armed incident could spiral out of control. So, we asked an expert to weigh in: is drone warfare becoming too much like a video game, psychologically removing soldiers from their actions? Or is it an example of technology’s ability to reduce human casualties? [Read More]( [Read More]( [Watch This Simple Piece of Glass Shatter a Bullet]( [Watch This Simple Piece of Glass Shatter a Bullet]( Don’t be fooled by this delicate drop of glass. It’s actually really hard to destroy. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [DIY Car Key Programming: Why Pay the Dealer?]( [DIY Car Key Programming: Why Pay the Dealer?]( Tom’s Key Company makes easy to use, affordable kits to duplicate your car keys [Read More]( [How to Stripe a Lawn For That Baseball-Field Look]( How to Stripe a Lawn For That Baseball-Field Look]( It’s mostly technique, but we’ve got tips and tricks to improve your stripe game. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [J-B Weld: Just How Tough Is It?]( [J-B Weld: Just How Tough Is It?]( The short answer: pretty tough! [Read More]( [Essential Canning Supplies for Savoring Summer’s Bounty]( [Essential Canning Supplies for Savoring Summer’s Bounty]( From complete kits to complementary accessories, these are the essentials you need to preserve produce at home. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [POP Membership]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( PopularMechanics.com ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019