Image source: topwar.ru
The US Air Force has lost the MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drone. The American drone fell on the territory of Romania, the fall of the "Reaper" was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of the country.
According to data provided by the Romanian military, an American UAV crashed three kilometers south of the 71st base of the Romanian Air Force in Campia Turzii, where a unit of American drones is stationed. The fall occurred at 14:15 local time (coincides with Moscow time) when the drone returned to the base. The cause of the crash is not called.
According to the Romanian Defense Ministry, the drone was operated by an American operator, the drone participated in joint exercises in the Romanian Armed Forces.
- Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dyncu said.
The fact that the United States deployed MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike UAVs and 90 American servicemen to the 71st Kympiya-Turziy Airbase was reported in early January 2021. As the press service of the US Air Force Command in Europe and Africa reported at the time, the drones were deployed in Romania "for a very long time" with the task of monitoring, collecting information and intelligence to support NATO operations, i.e. to carry out reconnaissance. It is possible that drones are circling over Ukraine from this airbase.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone, manufactured by the American company General Atomics, is equipped with turboprop engines. The UAV has a flight duration of more than 27 hours, a maximum speed of up to 400 km / h and a cruising speed of up to 250 km / h, a ceiling of up to 15 km and a load capacity of 1740 kg with 6 suspension points.
