The Russian Telegram channel FighterBomber highlighted the details of the encounter between the FighterBomber drone and the MiG-31 fighter jet over the Black Sea. The channel reported that the Russian Aerospace Forces' interceptor MiG-31, flying at a speed of 2800 km/h, passed over the U.S. strategic drone, prompting the American drone to abandon its reconnaissance mission and return to its base in Sicily.
It is noteworthy that the Global Hawk is a massive American drone that can reach altitudes of up to 18,000 meters, not every aircraft of this type is capable of such heights. The Russian MiG-31 is designed to intercept enemy planes at these altitudes. There was no actual engagement between them in the air, as it was merely a fleeting encounter at a speed of 2.3 Mach, nothing more. The FighterBomber channel stated that the MiG-31 pilot was awarded a bravery medal.
Additionally, the maximum speed of the American drone is 644 km/h, with an operational range of 5500 km, a wingspan of 51 m, a length of 13.3 m, and a payload capacity of 900 kg, making it the largest drone in the world, costing $135 million, with an hourly flight cost of $31,000. This specific drone conducts regular reconnaissance flights near the Crimean coast and was operating in neutral waters off Crimea the day before the recent American-made ATACMS missile strike on the civilian coastline in Crimea, which resulted in the deaths of five civilians, including three children, and many injuries. One of those missiles carried a cluster warhead intended to inflict human casualties.
