Russian defence minister decorates pilots for downing U.S. drone

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has presented awards to the pilots of two Su-27 fighter planes that intercepted a U.S. drone near the airspace around Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, his ministry said on Friday.

The drone crashed into the Black Sea on Tuesday after being intercepted by Russian jets, in the first known direct military encounter between Russia and the United States since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago.

Announcing the awards, the ministry repeated Russia's version of events - disputed by Washington - that the Russian planes did not make physical contact with the drone.

"As a result of sharp maneuvering around 9:30 a.m. (Moscow time), the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface," it said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-defence-minister-decorates-pilots-094828825.html

When their war is going so shitty I guess they have to celebrate what successes they can. I doubt the pilot who shot down the Chinese balloon received a medal but you never know.

[Trailrider1951]

1. Yeah, those Russian pilots are pretty brave and heroic when the target doesn't shoot back

[NotASurfer]

2. YouTube asked, what if the drone had a friend who could shoot back?

Ran across these people who wondered - with the constraints imposed by a simulation- (1) how hard it was to intentionally do the kind of damage shown in released video to a drone (very hard to do intentionally, lending credence to the specific damage being a lucky accident) AND (2) what an armed drone "wingman" might be able to do, to protect the surveillance drone or retaliate.