Incident over the Black Sea: the flight of the MQ-9 Reaper was considered a provocation

The scandal surrounding the provocative flight of the US strike drone off the coast of Crimea received a new development. After the drone crashed into the sea, unable to withstand the approach of Russian fighters, Washington hastened to call the ambassador from the Russian Federation in order to habitually blame Moscow for everything. What answer did the State Department have to swallow? And why did the US arrange this flight at all? Details are in the story. REN TV.

“Mad Maneuver”

What remains of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone now lies in the waters of the Crimea. According to the Ministry of Defense, the US Air Force drone was moving in the direction of the Russian state border.

“The flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle was carried out with the transponders turned off, violating the boundaries of the area of ​​​​the temporary regime for the use of airspace, established for the purpose of conducting a special military operation. In order to identify the intruder, fighters from the air defense forces on duty were lifted into the air”– reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Russian pilots did not use weapons, there was no goal to shoot down the UAV. But the drone operators still could not stand the meeting with the Russian Su-27s. As a result of abrupt maneuvering, the drone went into uncontrolled flight and fell into the water. The Pentagon had to write excuses on the go.

“The Su-27 aircraft hit the propeller of the drone, which caused the UAV to lose control and fall into the waters of the Black Sea. Several times before the collision, the Su-27 spilled fuel on the drone and flew in its path, which is a crazy and unprofessional maneuver”said Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder.

hellfire

For the sake of the modern agenda, the Pentagon also accused Russia of environmental pollution. The flights of our own heavy reconnaissance and strike drones are obviously recognized as environmentally friendly. Especially if you smoke the atmosphere thousands of kilometers from American soil.

“Where is America and where are its drones? Americans, in general, do not fly by chance. They take pictures, share intelligence information with the Kyiv regime. Drones are constantly circling in the neutral waters of the Black Sea”– said military expert Vasily Dandykin.

Moreover, the MQ-9 is not just a reconnaissance drone. The craft, worth at least $30 million, is capable of carrying up to eight laser-guided missiles and 16 Hellfire missiles – literally hellfire. And this is a direct threat to civilian and military facilities in Crimea.

“Whatever actions the Russian aircraft took, they were consistent with the protection of Russian airspace. I would note that they did not use military force. It was a deliberate provocation on the part of the United States”said military expert Scott Ritter.

Check the defenses and make a scandal

The purpose of the provocation is clear: as in the sensational case with the British destroyer Defender in 2021, to test the strength of the Russian defense in the Black Sea, and at the same time to make a diplomatic scandal. On the second point, the US State Department promptly summoned the Russian ambassador.

“This drone can carry several bombs. You will see what the United States will do if such a Russian drone flies close to, for example, San Francisco or New York. What will the US reaction be? It is clear to me, to you too”– said Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United States.

Seize on the status of world hegemon

However, the consequences of the reckless actions of their own government are becoming more and more obvious to the American public and even the political establishment. Congressman Matt Gatz directly blames the Biden administration.

“The United States has already exhausted more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine. Now we are losing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of precious American technology, such as the MQ-9 Reaper. The dire risk of all-out war with Russia cannot be ignored as we teeter on the brink of direct conflict.”Goetz emphasized.

For the United States, such risks are the only chance to seize on the status of world hegemon. But military adventures in Ukraine could cost Biden his seat in the upcoming elections. Popular support for the conflict is fading before our eyes, and the White House is in disarray. How to comment on the next military adventure has not yet been figured out.

US Presidential Air Force One landed at Las Vegas Airport. Biden plans to raise funds for the party. A convenient excuse to hide from international problems and a convenient place is the Nevada desert. But it is unlikely that it will be possible to remain silent, the US power bloc has already said enough. And even the loss of an expensive drone will be forgotten quickly. The Pentagon promised to continue flying where they see fit.