Jakarta –
Ministry of Defence Russia said it deployed fighter jets following the detection of the drone (drone) United States of America (USA) over the Black Sea. Russia has denied its fighter jet caused the downing of the US drone.
Reported AFPWednesday (15/3/2023) the US military said a Russian fighter jet dumped fuel on a drone have it. Then drone it collided with a Russian fighter jet, resulting in the downing of the drone.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow said it detected an American MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea flying towards its country’s borders.
“(The US drone) over the waters of the Black Sea on the territory of the Crimean peninsula (flew) towards the borders of the Russian state,” the Russian military said.
Russia added that drone it was flying with its “transponder turned off” and fighter jets were deployed “to identify it”.
“Due to a sharp maneuver at around 0930 MSK (0630 GMT), the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle entered an uncontrolled flight with loss of altitude and collided with the water surface,” the ministry said.
“Russian fighters did not use their weapons, did not come into contact with the UAVs and safely returned to their home airfields,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
US Drone Crashes in Black Sea
Previously, reported by the BBC and AFP, Wednesday (15/3/2023), the US said its unmanned aircraft was on a routine mission in international airspace. Then, 2 Russian fighter jets tried to intercept it.
US European Command said the incident was the result of an “unprofessional act by Russia”. US and allied forces will continue to operate in international airspace.
Before colliding with the US drone, two Russian Su-27 fighters intercepted the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper over international waters and one cut off its propeller.
The US military said the Russian jet also dumped fuel on the American drone.
“Several times before the collision, the Su-27 dumped fuel and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, unfriendly and unprofessional manner,” he said.
US Air Force General James Hecker said drone at that time he was carrying out routine operations in international airspace.
“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and rammed by a Russian aircraft, resulting in the crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” said US Air Force General James Hecker.
(lir/lir)
