US discuss expediency of launching drones over Black Sea - CNN

CNN reports.

According to the media, Washington has not stopped flying completely, but is now assessing the risks and benefits of continuing operations over the Black Sea. Shortly after the collision on March 14, the military sent the same model of drone, an MQ-9 Reaper, on a mission in approximately the same area over the Black Sea to monitor Russians looking for the debris.

The military is analyzing and studying drone routes to reduce the risk of conflict with Russians who regularly fly in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

"The Pentagon plans to analyze the overall costs and benefits of flying these missions, comparing the potential intelligence value of a particular route versus the risk of escalation with Russia," CNN reports.

In addition, the TV channel relies on the words of one of the US officials. According to him, the US military is concerned about the possible restriction of routes for the drone operations, which could affect the intelligence gathering on the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Washington said, the United States has alternative sources of information, such as spy satellites.

• On March 14, in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. The drone was shot down as a result of the incident. After the incident, the United States began negotiations with Russia at the "highest level" and summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington.

• Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said after the incident with the US drone that Moscow does not want a confrontation with the United States, but "American aircraft have no business being near the Russian border."

• On March 15, the White House said that the drone incident would not prevent the United States from flying over the Black Sea.

• The Kremlin was aware of the attack on the American military drone, as the aggressive actions of Russian fighters had been approved in advance by the leadership.

• On March 16, the U.S. Department of Defense released a video of a Russian Su-27 colliding with an American MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.

• Subsequently, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that the Russian pilot's pursuit of the American drone was a deliberate and aggressive act.