The Israeli Air Force, or IAF, fired on a Russian drone aircraft over the Golan Heights three weeks ago. Patriot missiles also were fired in addition to missiles from fighter jets flying combat air patrol. All of the attempts to shoot down the drone were unsuccessful. Russian officials admitted the intrusion and said the aircraft was in the area by mistake.
Sources within the Israeli defense community say the fighters most likely did not use guns due to the prospect of hitting unintended targets on the ground. The drone was most likely flying too slow for missile shots to be effective.
