Leonkov: Su-27 could accidentally “blow” the American Reaper drone with a strong airflow
Drone UNITED STATESwho carried out reconnaissance on the Russian borders in the region Crimeacould fall into the Black Sea after being accidentally exposed to a powerful airflow from Russian engines Su-27 when performing a maneuver. Probable cause of the accident RIA News called military analyst Alexei Leonkov.
“I think this impact happened by chance. The situation is as follows: an aircraft-type airborne target with a wingspan of 20 meters with turned off transponders is approaching the borders at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour Russia. The Su-27 flew away, made sure it was a drone, turned around and ‘blew’ it away with a jet of air,” the expert said.
According to Leonkov, in this situation, the drone operator could hardly have reacted quickly. If the American Reaper was flying on its own, it had almost no chance of dodging. The drone had a propeller motor, there is an air intake – “probably the propeller was damaged and the drone fell,” the agency interlocutor suggested.
Associated materials:
March 14 appeared information about the collision of an American drone and a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea. Later in Ministry of Defense of Russia confirmed that an American-made MQ-9 drone fell into the Black Sea. The ministry also clarified that the Russian fighters raised to intercept did not come into contact with the UAV, did not use weapons. According to the Ministry of Defense, the drone began to maneuver abruptly, lost control and fell into the water.
On the same day, the American side accused Russia in the deliberate destruction of the drone. The MQ-9 was conducting routine operation in international airspace, said General James Hecker, commander of the US Air Force in Europe and Africa.
At the same time, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, commenting situation, said there was no need to fly where he was not supposed to.
March 15 Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu during telephone conversations with the Pentagon Lloyd Austin declaredthat US Global Hawk drone flights off Crimea pose a risk of escalation.