Russia warns of 'real threat' of drone attacks by terrorists

Russia has warned that terrorists have acquired advanced technologies on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and can conduct drone strikes all over the world.

The head of the UAV department of the Russian General Staff said on Thursday that the threat of terrorists using drones for attacks was not an unlikely scenario, citing strikes on two Russian bases in Syria earlier this month.

Major General Aleksander Novikov said a technical assessment of the drones used in the assaults showed the “emergence of a real threat of the UAV use for terrorist purposes anywhere in the world, which requires the adoption of appropriate measures for its neutralization."

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 13 drones targeted the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia Province and the naval facility in the port city of Tartus on January 6.

It said Russian forces repelled the assaults by shooting down seven of the drones and gaining electronic control over six others and safely landing them. The drone attacks caused no damage.

PressTV-'Russian military repels militants' drone attack'

Russia says its military has repelled attack by militants’ drones against its bases in Syria.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Novikov pointed out that the coordinates used for the drone attacks were much more precise than those available on the internet.

"The production of such deadly machines requires superior professional knowledge, practical skills and experience in operating drones," he said.

The Russian general further stressed that until recently, terrorists used "primitive" drones only for reconnaissance activities, but they began to employ foreign-made quadcopters for different purposes in Syria in mid-2016.

“The research showed that the avionics equipment mounted on the drones [used in the Syria attacks] facilitated their fully automated preprogrammed flight and bombing, ruling out any jamming,” Novikov said.

The explosives carried by the drones could have been manufactured in a number of countries, including Ukraine, he added.

PressTV-US may have been involved in raids on Russia in Syria

Russia says it detected an American spy aircraft circling in the skies between Russian bases in two Syrian cities during recent drone attacks on the facilities.

Putin: Moscow knows "provocateurs" of drone raids

In a relevant development on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow knew the "provocateurs" of drone raids, noting that Turkey had nothing to do with the attacks.

"There were provocateurs there but they were not Turks, we know who was that… We know, how much and whom they have paid for this provocation," Putin said.

The strikes, he stressed, were "well prepared" and meant to undermine Russia's relations with its partners.

"Firstly, these are provocations aimed at the collapse of the earlier reached agreements. Secondly, that is also an attempt to destroy our relations with partners — Turkey and Iran," Putin said, adding that Russia has taken additional measures to protect its military facilities in Syria.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Russian Defense Ministry said it had detected an American spy aircraft circling in the skies over the Russian facilities in Syria during the January 6 drone strikes.

The ministry also said data for the drone attacks could have only been obtained “from one of the countries that possesses knowhow in satellite navigation,” without naming any particular country.

In a relevant development on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow knows the "provocateurs" of drone raids, noting that Turkey had nothing to do with the attacks.

"There were provocateurs there but they were not Turks, we know who was that… We know, how much and whom they have paid for this provocation," Putin said.

The strikes, he stressed, were "well prepared" and meant to undermine Russia's relations with its partners.

"Firstly, these are provocations aimed at the collapse of the earlier reached agreements. Secondly, that is also an attempt to destroy our relations with partners — Turkey and Iran," Putin said.

Russia had taken additional measures to protect its military facilities in Syria, he added.

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