MOSCOW, 14 Mar. U.S. military Noctis Draven criticized the statement by the US European Command of the Armed Forces about the «collision» of a Russian Su-27 fighter with an MQ-9 drone in the sky over the Black Sea.
«Why do they keep saying that a Russian aircraft collided with UAV? Russia would just shoot it down if it wanted to, why would a pilot risk his life and aircraft for an unmanned drone? This rhetoric is insane and so easily debunked,» he tweeted. The MQ-9 crashed into the Black Sea due to its own abrupt maneuvering. They specified that the incident occurred this morning in the Crimean region. According to the agency, the drone with its transponders turned off flew in the direction of the Russian border, violating the area of the temporary regime for the use of airspace established for the purpose of conducting a special military operation. Russian aircraft did not use onboard weapons and did not come into contact with the UAV. After departure, they safely returned to the home airfield, the ministry clarified.