US Black Sea Drone Crash: CBS Graphic Shows US Version Of Events

US Black Sea Drone Crash: CBS Graphic Shows US Version Of Events

CBS has released a graphic showing the US version of how the apparent crash of the American MQ-9 Reaper UAV drone over the Black Sea occurred, which alleges a Russian Su-27 jet poured fuel on it before a fighter "collided" with the drone and damaged its propeller.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that jets were scrambled to intercept it after the drone violated the border with its transponder turned off. Still, they didn’t fire or come into contact with the Reaper before it crashed after an unsuccessful maneuver.

The $56.5 million Reaper system reconnaissance and attack drone has a maximum speed of 440 km/h, an altitude of about 15,000 meters, and can fly for an entire day. It can use eight laser-guided and 114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles.