Russia To Decrypt US MQ-9 Reaper Drone That Crashed in the Black Sea

Russia To Recover Downed US MQ-9 Reaper Drone, To Examine Debris for Reverse Engineering

(Photo : US Defense Department European Command via Getty Images)
Russia allegedly attempted to recover the debris of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone that crashed in the Black Sea after it was intercepted by two Su-27 fighter jets.

Russia attempts to recover the debris of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea.
The debris could allow Russia to reverse engineer the US UAV.
The US was forced to crash the MQ-9 Reaper drone after it was intercepted by two Su-27 fighter jets.

Russia got the best of Washington when it lost a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea with super-secret components that will benefit Moscow. Rostec, a Russian official state corporation, stated that the defense industry of Moscow would look over the Reaper drone's debris.

US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Loss Compromises the Biden Administration

Reports stated that the drone wreckage would "be stripped down and studied to the last bolt," according to the Russian News agency TASS.

An official said that to develop a better platform, Russia must know what its opponents have and more. These include UAVs, artillery, armored units, and other weapon systems that can be obtained. For this reason, Moscow wants to get the remains and reverse engineer to develop a better one. But a Ukrainian expert, Oleksandr Karpyuk, claims Russians cannot do that, Eurasian Times reported.

Karpyuk said there had been talks about how Moscow or Tehran would start replicating the systems. He added that Russians and Iranians need the technology to begin with. He added the Reaper has a satellite link that allows the US to operate it a continent away. There is a need for a satellite constellation to ensure a constant link to the drone at all times. He mentioned that Tehran had already replicated drones from other countries, including the Shahed, which is similar to the Harpy made in Israel 20 years ago.

Harpy is capable of looking for electronic countermeasure hardware and security equipment, and it can land and take off anytime. Compared to the suicide version made by Iran for one use only.

Karpyuk remarked the Shahid has Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA) installed in it which started in the 2000s. The Israelis gave Russia the tech and mean to build the Orlan-10 UAVS, cites Everything RF. Updates to Iran's UAV guidance systems are due to Moscow sharing the technology stolen from other drones.

Russia's Attempt To Retrieve the UAV Heard in Radio Chatter

Details alleged that radio hobbyist heard the exchanges on the radio of the Russian military talking about the MQ-9 Reaper for eight hours when it went down in the Black Sea. The UAV was allegedly hit by a Russian fighter, mentioned in the New York Times.

Contained in the audio were the Russians discussing any parts of the drone left but none of the sensitive equipment. These drones are for gathering information though they can equip other equipment. Defense Secretary Mark Milley stated that measures are taken to ensure the information is irrecoverable. The drone is out to Russian reach in the Black Sea at depths of 4,000 to 5,000 feet.

A video of the downing of the UAVs by the Pentagon was posted, showing a collision with two Su-27 jets. The US denies it was forced because they crashed it, but some think otherwise.

No one knows if Russia already retrieved the US MQ-9 Reaper drone with the super-secret equipment, but it could be harrowing for the US if the Russians recover it, per Airforce Technology.