Meet the MQ9 Reaper, America’s deadliest drone
The United States said on Tuesday that a US military drone Reaper crashed into the Black Sea after hitting the propeller of a Russian Su27 fighter jet. Moscow denied the collision, saying the equipment fell into the water after sudden movements.
Where was the incident?
The drone crashed into the Black Sea, which lies between Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. The crash happened near the coast of Crimea, the Ukrainian region annexed by the Russians in 2014.
What did the US drone shoot down?
- US version: a collision between the propeller of North American equipment and a Russian fighter;
- Russia version: Sudden maneuvers by the drone itself, resulting in loss of altitude and equipment crashing.
How was the incident?
- US version: Two Russian jets reportedly dumped fuel on the drone and flew in front of the equipment. After a collision with the propeller, the US military would have been forced to shoot down the drone;
- Russia version: After the drone was spotted near the country’s airspace, Russian fighters took off to investigate the situation. According to reports, the US equipment made sudden maneuvers, lost altitude and crashed into the sea.
Why was the drone shot down?
- US version: Russian warplanes reportedly intercepted the drone as it was conducting routine operations in the Black Sea region near Ukraine;
- Russia version: The drone would not have been shot down but would have lost control and crashed on its own. According to TASS, the Russian news agency, there was no use of weapons or physical contact with US equipment.
What kind of drone was shot down?
The MQ9 Reaper is an American surveillance drone. It is generally used as a support tool in missions, but can also be equipped with missiles and accurately hit targets.
Could the US recover the drone?
The Pentagon declined to say whether it would attempt to recover the wreckage of the MQ9, but said the Russians had not recovered the plane either. There are no American ships in the Black Sea.
What did the drone do over the Black Sea?
The plane was believed to have been involved in the collection of information of the United States in connection with the war in Ukraine. The United States has routinely flown surveillance planes in and around the area.
“We’ve been flying this airspace consistently for a year now… and we will continue to do so,” said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
What did the United States say?
US officials called Russia’s move reckless and unprofessional, saying the move also puts Russian jets at risk.
As for the US presence in the region, the Air Force said it was conducting a routine operation in international airspace.
“We don’t have to check in with the Russians before we fly into international airspace,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
What did Russia say?
The Russians said the US drone flew over the Black Sea near Crimea and entered an area banned by Russia. According to Moscow, the entire region has been affected by a socalled “military special operation” in Ukraine, which has prompted the military to send fighter jets to intercept them.
“As a result of a sudden maneuver, the MQ9 drone went into uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and crashed into the water,” a statement said. “The Russian fighters did not use their weapons or hit the UAV and they returned safely to their base.”
How was the tension between Russia and the US?
The United States summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington later Tuesday for clarification, said State Department spokesman Ned Price, who described the incident as a “blatant violation of international law.”
Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the United States, said their meeting at the State Department was “constructive” and the question of possible “consequences” for Moscow over the incident had not been raised, RIA reported.
“We do not want a confrontation between the United States and Russia. We support building pragmatic relations for the benefit of the Russian and American peoples,” Antonov said.
1 of 1 A US Air Force MQ9 Reaper drone is seen at a hangar in Estonia July 1, 2020 — Photo: Portal/Janis Laizans A US Air Force MQ9 Reaper drone is seen July 1 in seen at a hangar in Estonia , 2020 — Photo: Portal/Janis Laizans