Authorities in Moscow said Tuesday they could not confirm reports that a Russian fighter jet downed an American surveillance drone over the Black Sea after Ukraine launched a deadly strike against annexed Crimea said to have been carried out with U.S.-supplied missiles.
RQ-4B Global Hawk Drone Downed by Russian Mig-31 ?
Numerous online sources suggest that a US Air Force RQ-4B reconnaissance drone was downed over the Black Sea. The topic is lighting up X and Telegram, where users are buzzing with comments, although solid evidence remains scarce.
Leading the charge in these claims is X user, US Civil Defense News. According to this user, a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet shot down the US RQ-4B Global Hawk near Crimea. The user claims the US drone was providing targeting information to NATO missiles in Ukraine. Just hours before, the same X account released updates about Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, and NATO.
🚨Update: Report that a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet shot down the US RQ-4B Global Hawk over the Black Sea near Crimea where the US surveillance drone was providing targeting information to NATO missiles in Ukraine!! pic.twitter.com/SQemDNP00X
— US Civil Defense News (@CaptCoronado) June 25, 2024
The report stated that Moscow had decided to establish its own “no-fly zone” over the Black Sea. This move is in response to allied air reconnaissance efforts, which have been supplying Ukraine with information on Russian targets.
🚨Update: Russia is planning of declaring its own ‘no fly zone!’ Over the Black Sea! Will shoot down any NATO surveillance drone flying near Crimea giving targeting information to Ukraine!! War is about to heat up quick!! pic.twitter.com/nKMwBiFyf8
— US Civil Defense News (@CaptCoronado) June 24, 2024
Later, the two posts were merged into one that read: “We reported it first! Before it happened!! Now Russia just shot down a US Drone over the Black Sea!!,” referring to “Moscow’s decision to make the for flight zone” over the Black Sea. On Telegram, a debate has emerged regarding a “downed” RQ-4B drone, fueled by both pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian accounts. Claims suggest an RQ-4B drone has ceased transmission, leading to speculation that the drone was shot down.
You may also read this :- Bundeswehr’s Struggles: Why Germany Can’t Get its Drone Act Together 2024
There has been no official confirmation from the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Europe, or the United States concerning the downing of RQ-4B Global Hawk Drone reconnaissance drone within the last 24 hours. Even Russian outlets like Avia.pro report that the incident remains unverified, with no evidence to substantiate the claims. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not mentioned anything about aRQ-4B Global Hawk Drone, related incidents over the Black Sea, or the involvement of a MiG-31.
Drone operators frequently turn off the radar transponder during missions to enhance stealth and avoid detection. A disabled radar transponder doesn’t necessarily mean a drone has been downed or damaged.
Operators turn off the radar transponder to avoid electronic warfare tactics and maintain operational security. Defenceafghanistan.com cannot confirm the claim that Moscow is establishing a “no-fly zone” over the Black Sea. Authorities in Moscow said they could not confirm reports that a Russian fighter jet downed an American surveillance drone over the Black Sea.
Pro-war Russian bloggers claimed that a MiG-31 fighter jet shot down a RQ-4B Global Hawk Drone reconnaissance drone. An anonymous U.S. military official later denied the reported incident. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not issued any statements about an incident involving a RQ-4B Global Hawk Droneaircraft and its warplanes over the Black Sea.