According to our reporter, a strategic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the US Air Force was to the Crimean airspace for more than 5 hours.
The RQ-4 Global Hawk drone is said to have taken off around 6 a.m. from Sigonella airbase on the Italian island of Sicily, then headed for the Black Sea. The mission was to scout the Crimean peninsula’s middle and western sections.
As previously stated, the US drone remained at the airspace boundary with the Crimean peninsula for more than 5 hours, raising severe worries in the aftermath of Ukraine’s threats against Crimea.
In the past, the presence of the US strategic drone RQ-4 Global Hawk was linked to the gathering of information about the operations of the Russian air defence system as well as the detection of Russian military activity in Crimea.
Some views contend that the drone attack on Crimea is further proof that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) planes flew deliberately.
According to Flightradar 24, the drone was roughly 60–65 kilometres (or 85 kilometres) away from the Crimean peninsula’s coast while it was flying. Experts argue that based on the drone’s flight path, it has not yet engaged in any significant provocations of Crimea.
The US side has previously come under continuous pressure from the Russian Defense Ministry to halt intelligence operations, but the Pentagon is adamant about sticking with its spying strategy.
American strategic reconnaissance drone RQ-4 Global Hawk is made by Northrop Grumman Corporation. In March 2006, the first RQ-4 started serving in battle.
The mechanical components of the Global Hawk are mostly controlled by computers, and there is no driver. It is outfitted with cutting-edge technology. The RQ-4 Global Hawk’s integrated system consists of sensors, electronics, and data links that are mounted on the aircraft, while the control portion on the ground features a take-off device (LRE), aircraft control centre (MCE), and equipment for training flight operations personnel.
The Global Hawk can see through thick clouds and perform well in sandstorm conditions thanks to its high-resolution radar (SAR) system. The Global Hawk UAV has a take-off weight of 15 tonnes and a wingspan of around 40 metres. At 18,000 metres above sea level, the aircraft can patrol for 30 hours.
Experts claim that the capabilities of Global Hawk would improve the accuracy of weaponry and the effectiveness of ground forces by supplying on-demand photographs like: Panoramic view of the area where besieged soldiers were searching for a way out. As a result, the US created the Global Hawk to conduct long-term strategic aerial surveillance operations deep within enemy territory.
