CNN: US intelligence capabilities over the Black Sea deteriorated after the crash of the MQ-9 Reaper drone The change in the flight path of American reconnaissance drones has led to the fact that it has become more difficult for the United States to collect the necessary intelligence near the special operation zone.
Washington made the decision to "move" the route 64 km from the border of Ukraine after the incident with the MQ-9 Reaper drone, which fell into the Black Sea on March 14.
After the incident with the MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea, the United States had to change the routes of its drones in this region. This, in turn, limited the ability of the United States to collect intelligence related to the conduct of a special operation in Ukraine. CNN writes about this with reference to a high-ranking source in the Pentagon.
Another unnamed American official said that by changing the routes of drone flights, the White House is trying to avoid incidents that could escalate into a direct conflict with Moscow. According to him, remote drone flights will continue "for some time", although there is an "appetite" to return to routes near Russian territory.
Earlier, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not answer the question about adjusted drone flights over the Black Sea at a hearing in the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
The incident with the American drone occurred on the morning of March 14 in the area of the Crimean peninsula. The MQ-9 Reaper was flying towards Russia with the transponder turned off. At the same time, he violated the boundaries of the area of the temporary regime for the use of airspace established for the purpose of conducting a special operation.
After the Russian Armed Forces discovered the drone, Russian fighters from the air defense forces on duty took to the air. The Defense Ministry noted that the drone lost control due to a sharp maneuver and fell into the water.
The Russian fighters who accompanied him did not come into contact with the MQ-9, did not use weapons and returned safely to the home airfield, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The pilots were presented with an award. The head of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu presented them with the Order of Courage.
The USA has a different version. The US military claims that two Russian Su-27 intercepted the MQ-9, making dangerous rendezvous maneuvers. Washington is confident that the drone crashed due to the fact that one of the fighters touched its propeller.
Russia was also accused of being unecological due to the alleged dumping of fuel on the drone and because of its crash into the Black Sea. "Maybe it was not necessary to fly there, who is not supposed to? Then everything would be eco-friendly," Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of Russia, said in response to such statements.
Rostec, meanwhile, said that the wreckage of the American reconnaissance drone MQ-9 Reaper is of interest to specialists of the Russian defense industry.
"Any find of this order should be disassembled and studied to the last bolt," the state corporation told TASS, stressing that all captured equipment is being carefully studied.
"Firstly, without going into details, I will say that we have taken steps to protect the information on board the vessel, and secondly, the remains are at a very great depth," he explained.
Angelina Milchenko