The US military said its MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea on March 16 after a Russian Su-27 fighter jet damaged its propeller.
Key facts
- US drones have been known to carry out reconnaissance missions in and around Ukraine, and the US has claimed that the downed drone was doing so in international airspace – which is not under the legal jurisdiction of any one country – over the Black Sea.
- The remotely piloted MQ-9 “Reaper” can reach up to 50,000 feet for more than 27 hours, gathering intelligence with cameras, sensors and radars.
- The US Air Force website states it can also carry precision strikes. It has a 66-feet wingspan and a length of 36 feet.
- It can carry 3,900 pounds of fuel and travel at a speed of 240 knots.
- Drones are cheaper than manned aircraft with similar capabilities and are safer for operators since they do not require a pilot.
