Su-35 demonstrates superb air to ground capability in Syria racking up 160 bombing missions on 1 jet

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

And easy to detect and shot down by air superiority fighter jets long range SAMs, Spy drone has mor chances for survival because they have extremely low RCS as compare to this slow giant @Austin Powers

Spy drones have limited control range. Even MALE drones have less flight time than Il-20M. In Syria rebels don't have SAM. So they can't shoot down Il-20M.

 

[Ultima Thule]

Spy drones have limited control range. Even MALE drones have less flight time than Il-20M. In Syria rebels don't have SAM. So they can't shoot down Il-20M.

Spy drone especially USA/Russia/Nato/ China uses Satellite uplinks and downlink so operating/control range didn't a problem for these spy drones, IL-20M is not build only for Syrian civil war but to spy east EU countries military assets/ US warship signal intelligence at sea from stand off ranges @Austin Powers