The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the UAV could violate the established boundaries of the area where the aggressor country is “conducting a military defense.” They also noted that all its users were informed about the boundaries of this airspace zone.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented for the award the pilots of the Su-27 fighters involved in the downing of the MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea. According to the aggressor country, the military prevented the UAV from violating “the borders of the region of the temporary regime for the use of airspace.” This was written by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Defense claims that all users of international airspace are informed that a certain zone “is established for conducting air defense.” The American drone allegedly flew towards the border of the Russian Federation with transponders turned off, so enemy air defense planes were raised into the sky to identify it.
“As a result of sharp maneuvering around 9.30 (Moscow time), the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface. The Russian fighters did not use airborne weapons, they did not make contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle, did not make contact and returned safely to the home airfield,” the Russian ministry said.
Recall that an American MQ-9 Reaper UAV collided with a Russian Su-27 aircraft in the air over the Black Sea on March 14.
On March 16, the media reported that the Russians were able to get the wreckage of the drone from the sea. However, the United States assured that it would not be possible to obtain any secret data from it from the RF Armed Forces.
Also on March 16, the US military released footage of Russian fighter jets intercepting UAVs and dumping some of their fuel.
Today, March 17, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev commented on the incident. In his opinion, the Americans have become insolent, so you should not stand on ceremony with them. The official called the US senator a bastard.
