«Let them first prove why they dropped it»
There are too many inconsistencies in the statement of the European Command of the US Air Force in Europe regarding the fall of the American MQ-9 drone into the Black Sea. The accusation of Russian aircraft in the incident is unfounded. So says a military expert, editor of the magazine «Arsenal of the Fatherland» Alexei Leonkov.
Earlier, the commander of the US Air Force in Europe, General James B. Hecker, said that on March 14, pilots of Russian Su-27 aircraft “unsafely and unprofessionally” piloted near the MQ-9 high-altitude drone, collided with it, which caused it to fall. The Russian military has not yet commented on this version.
The network is full of reports of an intriguing incident over the Black Sea that took place on Tuesday morning with an American reconnaissance drone MQ-9 Reaper. It is reported that the Russian Su-27 aircraft, flying too close to the drone, allegedly hooked its propeller and as a result the drone fell into the sea.
Is it possible to trust the version of the US Air Force and whether this incident will not become the beginning of the third world war, Alexei Leonkov, a well-known military analyst, editor of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, explained to MK.
At first, many decided that this story was just another fake. But then came the official information. Thus, the commander of the US Air Force in Europe and Africa, General James B. Hecker, said that during a «routine operation in international airspace» MQ-9 «was intercepted and shot down by a Russian Su-27 aircraft.» It is said that Biden has already been informed of the incident.
The American general called the incident «a reckless act» or «an unsafe and unprofessional interception of an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.» Here's what the expert says about this.
— Agree, the stupidest version. Much depends on how close our plane approached this drone. If such a thing ever happened. The drone is designed for a flight speed of up to 300 km/h. And a Su-27 flies past it at a speed of a thousand kilometers per hour. What screw can be hooked there?
— Of course, there is. For example, he could use the electronic warfare systems on board against the drone, or use aircraft weapons. Let's say a 30-millimeter cannon damage an American apparatus. Could, finally, use an air-to-air missile.
— The weapon was not used in this case. Most likely, the drone just fell down from the oncoming stream.
— Let them first prove why they fell.
— Of course not. Definitely will not lead