aircraft,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.Īnd White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. “We are engaging directly with the Russians, again at senior levels, to convey our strong objections to this unsafe, unprofessional intercept, which caused the downing of the unmanned U.S. State Department summoned Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov to a meeting Tuesday with Karen Donfried, the assistant secretary of state for Europe. The collision triggered a diplomatic protest. Passer-by Uncovers Makeshift Graves in Formerly Russian-Occupied Ukrainian Town Diplomatic Dust-Up The Reaper, which first began operating in 2007, replaced the Air Force’s smaller Predator drones. It can fly at an altitude of up to 50,000 feet and has a range of about 1,400 nautical miles. It is about 36 feet long, 12 feet high, and weighs about 4,900 pounds. It can carry up to eight laser-guided missiles, including Hellfire missiles and other sophisticated munitions, and can loiter over targets for about 24 hours. Used routinely during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for surveillance and airstrikes, the Reaper can be either armed or unarmed. The team includes a rated pilot who is responsible for flying the aircraft and an enlisted aircrew member who is charged with operating the sensors and guiding weapons. It includes a ground control station and satellite equipment and has a 66-foot wingspan. The MQ-9 Reaper is a large unmanned Air Force aircraft that is remotely operated by a two-person team. The ministry said the Russian aircraft were scrambled to intercept the drone but did not use weapons on it or impact it. Nations routinely operate in international airspace and waters, and no country can claim limits on territory outside of its own border. surveillance planes were flying too close to its borders while ignoring the notices issued by Russia. Ever since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and long before Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Moscow has charged that U.S. Russia has declared broad areas near Crimea off limits to flights. drone went into uncontrollable flight with a loss of altitude and collided with water surface.” It claimed that “as a result of sharp maneuver, the U.S. It said that the Russian military scrambled fighters to intercept the U.S. drone was flying near the Russian border and intruded in an area that was declared off limits by Russian authorities. The Russian Defense Ministry said the U.S. It's not clear if the collision was an accident or intentional, but both sides agree the Russian aircraft were trying to intercept the drone. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide mission details. defense official said it was operating west of Crimea over the Black Sea. The Pentagon said the drone was “well clear” of any Ukrainian territory, but did not provide details. Pat Ryder said the collision likely also damaged the Russian fighter jet, but the Su-27 was able to land. Air Forces Europe and Africa, said that the Russian jet’s actions “nearly caused both aircraft to crash.” Pentagon spokesman Brig. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.”Īir Force Gen. They said the Russian jets flew around and in front of the drone several times for 30 to 40 minutes, and then one of the Russian aircraft "struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. European Command said that two Russian Su-27 aircraft dumped fuel on the MQ-9, which was conducting a routine surveillance mission over the Black Sea in international airspace. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter. Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news.
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