Russian fighter jet flies close to a U.S. MQ-9 reaper drone over Syria on July 23, 2023. U.S. Air Force via AP/TASS
Moscow Times/AFP: Russia Says Intercepted U.S. Drone Over Black Sea
Russia said Saturday it scrambled an Su-30 fighter jet to "prevent a violation of the Russian state border" by a U.S. Reaper MQ-9 military drone over the Black Sea.
"As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign reconnaissance drone performed a U-turn away from the border," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The ministry said the drone belonged to the U.S. Air Force. "The Russian aircraft returned safely to its airbase, there was no violation of the border," it added.
Incidents involving Russian and Western aircraft have multiplied over the Black Sea and Baltic Sea in recent months, as Moscow pursues its offensive in Ukraine.
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Update: Russia says fighter jet dispatched in response to U.S. reconnaissance drone detected near border (Meduza)
WNU Editor: There are advantages and disadvantages to deploying drones .... Russia Damaged Another MQ-9 Reaper, Proving Drones Are ‘Easier to Deploy and Easier to Destroy’ (Popular Mechanics).