Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] An American MQ-9 Reaper drone that crashed in the Black Sea after a warm meeting in all respects with Su-27 patrol fighters was found at a depth of 900 meters. Above it, the duty of the Black Sea Fleet ships was established in order not to let anyone near the crash site. The issue of its raising is being resolved.
There is a ship in the Black Sea Fleet that is capable of doing this - the legendary "Commune" built in 1913. Rebuilt many times and having a huge track record of underwater work (including the recovery of several submarines, as well as aircraft and ships), it has deep-sea vehicles capable of operating at a depth of up to 1 km.
By the way, Commune has experience in lifting foreign equipment. In 1928, she raised the sunken British submarine L-55 in the Baltic, which was blown up by mines while evading Soviet destroyers. The first work was before the Revolution, but during the Soviet era, the Kommuna became the most deserved rescue ship of the Soviet fleet.
Now, she may well take part in the rise of the drone, which is almost a century younger than her.
MQ-9 crash site
Click on the link in the title to see the image
[ColonelCassad] Satellite image of the crash site of the American MQ-9 Reaper UAV in the Black Sea.
Made March 15th. At the crash site, eight Russian ships and boats were recorded. One of the reasons why the "delegate from Romania" after trying to rummage to the crash site, turned around and retreated back to Constanta.
PS. The US episode itself is obviously leaked on the brakes, emphasizing "professionalism" and "ecology."
More from regnum.ru
Kirby on Russian air restrictions in the Black Sea: they are illegal
White House spokesman Kirby called illegal restrictions imposed by the Russian Federation over the Black Sea
The United States is not going to respect the boundaries of the flight zone established by Russia in the Black Sea due to a special operation. National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby called the air restrictions illegal.
The White House is confident that they can continue to fly in the Black Sea legally.
"We are going to continue to fly and operate in accordance with international law," Kirby said.
As well they should...
He also stressed that in Russia " they can say whatever they want ." As follows from his words, the United States is not going to listen to the statements made in the Russian Federation.
As REGNUM reported, on March 14, an American drone crashed in the Black Sea, flying with transponders turned off towards Crimea. After the incident, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed that the aircraft violated the boundaries of the flight zone determined by Russia due to a special operation.
More from regnum.ru:
Pentagon: US did not apologize to Russia in connection with the incident with the UAV
Pentagon: US did not apologize to Russia in connection with the incident with the MQ-9 drone
The US Department of Defense did not apologize to the Russian side for the incident with the aircraft that crashed into the Black Sea on March 14. This was announced to journalists on March 16 by Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder.
"We didn't ask for an apology. Our task was to emphasize that the United States will continue to fly and operate in international airspace and in accordance with international law," Ryder explained at the briefing.
As REGNUM reported earlier , the US authorities should not leave Russia's actions over the Black Sea unanswered , Rebecca Kofler, a former employee of the US Defense Intelligence Agency, told the London Express . In her opinion, it was allegedly the actions of the Russian fighter that led to the fact that the American reconnaissance drone MQ-9 Reaper crashed.
Yet more from regnum.ru:
US Department of Defense does not know whether they will demand the return of the fallen UAV
The Pentagon does not know whether they will demand the return of the fallen American drone
The Pentagon has not yet decided whether the United States will demand from Russia the return of the drone that fell into the Black Sea on March 14 or compensation for it. This was told to reporters on March 16 by Defense Ministry spokesman Patrick Ryder.
"I don’t know about this yet," Ryder replied briefly, adding that he had no information about plans to raise the wreckage of the drone.
As REGNUM reported, at the same time, it is known that specialists from the Russian Ministry of Defense discovered an MQ-9 Reaper drone on the seabed on the day it fell.
From RIA Novosti:
Drone shot down in Crimea
The air defense forces shot down a drone in the Saki region in the west of Crimea, the head of the region Sergey Aksyonov said on the air of the Soloviev Live program.
“Just a few hours ago, a drone was shot down in our Saki district,” he said.
According to Aksyonov, the air defense system destroys drones periodically reaching the Crimea.
Later, he clarified in the Telegram channel that the situation in the region is under control. Aksyonov stressed that the peninsula is under the reliable protection of the Russian Armed Forces. According to him, this once again proves the correctness of the choice made by local residents in 2014.
Since July last year, Ukrainian drones have been periodically trying to attack Sevastopol, the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as other objects in the Crimea. The targets of the attacks were the headquarters of the fleet, energy facilities, military airfields. Air defense systems destroy most drones.
Related:
MQ-9 Reaper: 2023-03-16 UK, Germany make first joint interception of a Russian jet near NATO airspace
MQ-9 Reaper: 2023-03-16 Russian Perspective: Operation to Denazify Ukraine: Operational Brief March 15th (updated)
MQ-9 Reaper: 2023-03-16 What was harvested off the coast of Crimea by a US drone that fell into the sea
MQ-9 Reaper: 2023-03-16 UK, Germany make first joint interception of a Russian jet near NATO airspace
MQ-9 Reaper: 2023-03-16 Russian Perspective: Operation to Denazify Ukraine: Operational Brief March 15th (updated)
MQ-9 Reaper: 2023-03-16 What was harvested off the coast of Crimea by a US drone that fell into the sea