Russian pilots who proved themselves in an incident with an American drone were presented for an award

By CrimeaNEWS On Мар 17, 2023

CrimeaPRESS reports:

The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu presented the pilots of the Su-27 aircraft for state awards, which prevented the violation by the American MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle of the borders of the area of the temporary regime for the use of airspace, established for the purpose of conducting a special military operation. This was reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. It is specified that the boundaries of the area were communicated to all users of international airspace and published in accordance with international standards.

On the morning of March 14, over the Black Sea in the area of the Crimean Peninsula, the airspace control of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded the flight of an American MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle in the direction of the state border of the Russian Federation. The flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle was carried out with the transponders turned off, violating the boundaries of the area of the temporary regime for the use of airspace, established for the purpose of conducting a special military operation, communicated to all users of international airspace and published in accordance with international standards— recalled the circumstances of the incident in the sky over the Black Sea in the Russian Defense Ministry.

In order to identify the intruder, fighters from the air defense forces on duty were raised into the air. As a result of sharp maneuvering around 9.30 (Moscow time), the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface.

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The military department stressed:

The Russian fighters did not use airborne weapons, did not come into contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle and returned safely to their base airfield.

Now the pilots are waiting for well-deserved awards. What exactly is not yet specified.

Video of the incident (from the US Department of Defense) — HERE.