In the first approach, no impact can be seen between the two aircraft, nor are there any indications that the drone fell. The maneuver “interrupted the video transmission”, details the website, indicating, however, that it can be seen that the drone’s propeller “is intact”.
During the second approach – without being able to establish whether it is the same fighter aircraft or another – the maneuver is similar but this time the aircraft passes even closer to the drone.
The image transmission is interrupted again. When it resumes, “you can see that one of the propeller blades is damaged,” says the US Air Force.
🚨 The US has publicly released the video of the demolition of its drone, the #MQ9 #Reaper. In it, you can see the hostile actions of the #SU27 Russian, who throws fuel at him and rams him.
The drone has fallen into the Black Sea and both countries are looking for it, although the information… https://t.co/QIMBZgro8K pic.twitter.com/jHuioOwghH— On The Wings of Aviation (@OnAviation)
March 16, 2023
On Tuesday, General James Hecker, commander of the US Air Force in Europe, stated that a MQ-9 Reapers which was carrying out “routine operations in international airspace” had been intercepted by Su-27 fighters and then “hit by a Russian plane, causing the crash and loss” of the drone.
Although he acknowledged that two fighters had intercepted the drone, Russia claimed not to be responsible for his downfall.
stress zone
It is the first time since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, that a NATO country has admitted to losing equipment it operated with in the volatile region.
Moscow stresses wanting to recover the drone to demonstrate US involvement in Ukraine operations.
