The US military has released a video of the Mq-9 Reaper UAV being shot down by Russian Su 27 fighters on March 14, 2023, approximately 70 miles southwest of Crimea. The trail left by the Russian fighter jet must have been fuel, possibly drained to damage the remote-controlled vehicle without the use of supplied armament. At the end of the video, you can also see that the propeller of the drone is deformed: Russia denied that the fighter jet damaged the drone.
The video appears to confirm the US story that two Russian Su-27 aircraft engaged in an “unsafe and unprofessional intercept” while the drone was on a surveillance and reconnaissance mission in international airspace above the Black Sea. Russian Su-27s drained of fuel and struck MQ-9’s propeller, forcing US forces to crash the MQ-9 into international waters.
The photos of the video are quite impressive: the Russian Su-27 is seen approaching the US Air Force MQ-9 and then starting to dump fuel. Video transmission stops when the Su-27 passes over the MQ-9. The US Air Force MQ-9 propeller remains visible and intact. Then, at 00:22, a second Russian Su-27 appears to have started a new approach, releasing more fuel and getting closer. At 00:29, contact is lost, then the MQ-9’s camera feed disappears for about 60 seconds. You can see the damaged propeller when the video runs again.
What happens after the drone is shot down?
US sources, quoted by the ABC news channel in North America, explain that if at least two Russian ships are seen in the area, the Russian army can recover the wreckage of the drone. However, the debris must be deep enough to make recovery difficult. Chief of Staff Mark Milley said the U.S. military has taken all necessary steps to remove the drone’s software so that the Russians cannot obtain classified information. “We’re not too worried about what they might get their hands on,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
After high-level contacts between the defense ministers of the USA and Russia yesterday, NATO today canceled the flights of Reaper drones near the Russian borders. Washington has so far refrained from supplying the Ukrainian military with modern weapons, precisely to prevent US military technology from falling into Moscow’s hands.
What is the MQ-9 Reaper drone?
MQ-9 Reaper drones are used as reconnaissance drones to provide intelligence to NATO commanders and partners around the world: NATO European Commander-in-Chief Christopher Cavoli said he has canceled several MQ-9 Reaper UAV missions scheduled for today: from Italy to Crimea, Lithuania to Kaliningrad. And the third drone from Romania to Lviv. What is certain is that from today on, NATO aircraft over the Black Sea will not be signaled by open source detection systems, maybe flights will be stopped, maybe transponders will be turned off.
How is the war going in Ukraine?
Meanwhile, while in Backhmut, the flow of men and equipment continues in close combat between the Ukrainian army and the militia of the Wagner group to support the Russians. Kiev condemned the “unusual activities” of the Russian navy in the Black Sea, which counted 20 ships, including 4 missile carriers. According to Southern forces spokesperson Natalya Humenyuk, the presence of Russian ships is linked to the desire to launch missile strikes on Ukraine and the downing of the drone.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
