China News Agency, Moscow, March 14 (Reporter Tian Bing) The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 14th saying that the U.S. MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle lost control and fell into the sea due to violent aerial maneuvers. The Russian fighter did not use its airborne weapons. There was no contact with it.
According to a statement issued on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the morning of March 14, the airspace monitoring equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded that an American MQ-9 drone was flying in the direction of the Russian border over the Black Sea in the Crimea Peninsula. .
The drone's transponder was turned off during flight.
This move has violated the boundary of the temporary airspace control zone implemented by Russia for special military operations. Russia has previously notified all international airspace users of the restricted flight zone and issued an announcement in accordance with international practice.
The statement stated that in order to identify the aggressors, the Russian air defense forces on duty sent fighter planes into the sky.
At about 9:30 Moscow time, the MQ-9 drone lost control due to violent maneuvers and lost altitude rapidly, and then crashed into the water.
The statement emphasized that the Russian warplane did not use its on-board weapons, did not come into contact with the drone, and returned safely to its base airport.
According to TASS news agency, US Pentagon spokesman Ryder said at a regular press conference that day that the US MQ-9 drone was intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea and crashed into the sea. and reconnaissance missions.
U.S. State Department spokesman Price said at a regular press conference that the U.S. has notified its allies and partners about the incident of Russian fighter planes intercepting a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, and expressed concern to the Russian government about the incident. Summoned the Russian ambassador to the United States.
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