The United States, after the incident with the American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, plans to analyze the costs and benefits of such missions, “comparing the potential intelligence value of this route with the risk of escalation in relations with Russia”. .” On this subject informed CNN citing sources.
According to the publication, US military personnel are “closely studying” drone routes and assessing how to reduce the risk of conflict with Moscow, as Russian planes operate in the Crimea region.
According to a senior official, US leaders are concerned that restricting drone flights over the Black Sea could affect intelligence gathering related to military operations in Ukraine. However, according to CNN, Washington has alternative means to collect this information, such as spy satellites.
According to the publication, US drone flights will continue while the analysis is ongoing.
The incident with the American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea occurred on March 14. The US military said it fell due to the maneuver of the Russian Su-27 fighter. The Russian Defense Ministry says the fighters did not come into contact with the MQ-9. According to the agency, the drone made a sudden maneuver and lost control, after which it fell into the water.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have already had a telephone conversation during which they exchanged views on the plane crash.
On March 15, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev announced that Russian specialists would deal with the recovery of the fallen MQ-9 Reaper and expressed hope for the success of the operation. The next day, ABC News reported citing sources that on the day the drone crashed, Russian ships were seen in the area where it crashed. One of the channel’s interlocutors suggested that the Russian army had already been able to recover the wreckage of the aircraft.
March 16 US Department of Defense European Command published video with crashed MQ-9 Reaper drone and fighter jet over the Black Sea.
