Russia intercepts US drone over Crimea

[DJ MC]

Moscow (AFP) - A United States surveillance drone has been intercepted above the Ukranian region of Crimea, a Russian state arms and technology group said Friday.

 

"The drone was flying at about 4,000 metres (12,000 feet) and was virtually invisible from the ground. It was possible to break the link with US operators with complex radio-electronic" technology, said Rostec in a statement.

 

The drone fell "almost intact into the hands of self-defence forces" added Rostec, which said it had manufactured the equipment used to down the aircraft, but did not specify who was operating it.

 

"Judging by its identification number, UAV MQ-5B belonged to the 66th American Reconnaissance Brigade, based in Bavaria," Rostec said on its website, which also carried a picture of what it said was the captured drone.

 

The photograph appeared to show an apparently armed drone in flight, rather than debris.

 

The Crimean port of Sevastopol is home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is believed to be equipped with detection equipment.

 

Read more:source

 

 

For something that costs millions of dollars, you would think it would be very difficult to intercept these drones. Looks like we were wrong.

[CenSin]

Glad to see us tax payers gifting the Russians another new toy.</s>

[aemoreira81]

This is something that should be seen as an act of war. If Russia wants war...it should get war...nuclear war!

[Kamen Rider]

Playing "Fallout" is fine, I don't want to have to live it.

[Grand Concourse]

Speaking of drones, did we ever get back the one that 'landed' in iran some months/years ago?

[theaveragejoe]

Speaking of drones, did we ever get back the one that 'landed' in iran some months/years ago?

 

 

Nope

[Grand Concourse]

Damn, smh. Another loss like the f117 in kosovo to the serbs who then sent the wreck to russia to study... How many more of our tech must be lost to the enemy?

[theaveragejoe]

Im sure it has happened to the other side before as well.

[traingoat]

Im sure it has happened to the other side before as well.

We have as the Israelis got hold of a MiG-21 I believe from a defecting Syrian pilot and we got our hands on it.  Prior to that we believed that plane was basically invincible til we found the design flaws where it could only use 2/3 of its fuel or would fall out of the air and a few other things. were also found.  Spy versus Spy isn't just a Mad comics strip. 

[Grand Concourse]

T'I think there was the mig25 that was supposedly based off a canadian air force plane. We only knew about it because a russian pilot defected in one.

[traingoat]

T'I think there was the mig25 that was supposedly based off a canadian air force plane. We only knew about it because a russian pilot defected in one.

 

 

You are right about 20 something years ago.

[realizm]

This is not a good scenario. I've been following this in the news and have some thoughts on this.

 

I remember a broadcast made by Bill O'Reilly. He made the prediction if you will of a domino effect that may take place that may stem from this recent incident of drones to the recent US sanctions made on Russia. This is why:

 

1) The fuel lines that run through Ukraine from Russia that supplies Europe with energy. If the US continues to impose sanctions and if Europe follows suit, then Russia may cut the gas lines putting Europe almost in the dark as a countermeasure. This can prove to be disastrous on the global economy.

 

2) If the US and Europe under NATO command decides to deploy troops if Putin decides to invade Ukraine which is possible as they have amassed 40,000 troops there at the borders with the capability of going into action in 12 hours from the green light from the Kremlin, it may further upset the political balance in a politically divided world. Recall that there are ongoing disputes between North and South Korea, China and Japan over territory in the South China Sea, also Israel and Iran. 

 

3) The scary prospect lies with really Israel and Iran. If Israel decides to invade Iran if Iran does not stop its nuclear program, Irael as a force with nuclear capability may invade Iran with air strikes to take out targets. Russia is supporting Iran. You can only imagine what may happen here with Putins support of Syria and the Assad regime as well as Iran. This will bring other countries to war including possibly the US. Keep in kind the US military as per Obama and Chuck Hagen of the pentagon are shrinking US forces to pre-WW2 numbers. As the forces are now smaller, many are unsure if US forces can handle yet another oversees military campaign *if* it comes to that. 

 

At first I did not believe it but now I don't think this is hype but actually very real. We've never have been in such a tense situation with Russia (With Putin's goal of bringing back a Soviet Russia, clearly apparent) since the cold war even with the past invasion of Chechnya. 

[realizm]

T'I think there was the mig25 that was supposedly based off a canadian air force plane. We only knew about it because a russian pilot defected in one.

 

Yes now that I think about it, there is a Russian warship that has been moved into position in Cuba for reasons unknown to US intelligence. Something is up here. I highly doubt Vladimir Putin has intentions to even try and enter US waters however nevertheless very alarming given the ongoing scenario in the Ukraine.

Russia also has some of the most advanced silent service nuclear submarines in the world. So the presence of the Russian Navy in the caribbean underwater cannot be ruled out either since there is a shift occurring with Russian warships in Atlantic waters as it is. Its at this point unconfirmed, I haven't seen any press releases on this particular.

[theaveragejoe]

Yes now that I think about it, there is a Russian warship that has been moved into position in Cuba for reasons unknown to US intelligence. Something is up here. I highly doubt Vladimir Putin has intentions to even try and enter US waters however nevertheless very alarming given the ongoing scenario in the Ukraine.

 

Russia also has some of the most advanced silent service nuclear submarines in the world. So the presence of the Russian Navy in the caribbean underwater cannot be ruled out either since there is a shift occurring with Russian warships in Atlantic waters as it is. Its at this point unconfirmed, I haven't seen any press releases on this particular.

 

 

Just some more Cold War games that Putin wants to play

[realizm]

Just some more Cold War games that Putin wants to play

 

Yup. He knows since the US downsized their army and phased out an entire fleet of planes, he can do whatever he wants. What he is trying to do is regain control of certain former Soviet states. As it is he restored Soviet Union emblems and the Soviet Union Anthem. 

 

Now Senator McCain is also instigating the matter in US Congress criticizing President Obama for not having a clue about what Putin is really about. That said, it is what it is. I'm sure President Vladimir Putin has no intentions to become a national threat to the United States in itself. But as I mentioned if he does invade the Ukraine in full it will cause severe repercussions and possibly bring UN forces to intervene. The pentagon as it is already took over air space over the Balkans.

 

This may seem to be a superficial matter at first glance but with all seriousness and with bias towards conspiratist theorists, this is a dangerous situation for real. All the official diplomatic analysts are saying this and I agree.

[theaveragejoe]

Yup. He knows since the US downsized their army and phased out an entire fleet of planes, he can do whatever he wants. What he is trying to do is regain control of certain former Soviet states. As it is he restored Soviet Union emblems and the Soviet Union Anthem. 

 

Now Senator McCain is also instigating the matter in US Congress criticizing President Obama for not having a clue about what Putin is really about. That said, it is what it is. I'm sure President Vladimir Putin has no intentions to become a national threat to the United States in itself. But as I mentioned if he does invade the Ukraine in full it will cause severe repercussions and possibly bring UN forces to intervene. The pentagon as it is already took over air space over the Balkans.

 

This may seem to be a superficial matter at first glance but with all seriousness and with bias towards conspiratist theorists, this is a dangerous situation for real. All the official diplomatic analysts are saying this and I agree.

 

 

He wants to see what he can get away with, also lets me to believe that he has been getting some info from Snowdon. NATO needs to start holding army drills with Ukraine and play the same game that Putin is doing. NATO hands down would win a war with Russia.

[Missabassie]

Obama isn't as war-minded as presidents of past, but at the same time, a country must keep its military strong!

 

This is nothing to be taken lightly.

[theaveragejoe]

Obama isn't as war-minded as presidents of past, but at the same time, a country must keep its military strong! This is nothing to be taken lightly.

 

 

Putin knows this and is testing Obama by seeing what he can get away with for the past 12-18 months

[Grand Concourse]

Obama isn't as war-minded as presidents of past, but at the same time, a country must keep its military strong! This is nothing to be taken lightly.

Obama almost launched a war on Syria till Russia stepped in with their deal to cool things off. So Obama hasn't exactly been a dove either. The problem with Ukraine was Obama taking too long to take action till Russia already made its move. That said, like Syria, that is in russia's sphere of influence. I would just leave it alone. Ukraine was part of Russia till it was taken as part of the soviet union break up. I say if they want to rejoin Russia, then go ahead. The UN and Nato are useless, always depending on the US to be their main support. Well I say to hell with them, they should muster their own forces if they want to take on Russia so bad. US is in enough shit as it is. Too many wars and we are still in a recession, despite what the media tries to declare otherwise.

[CenSin]

I'll be out of here before shit goes down.

[realizm]

Obama almost launched a war on Syria till Russia stepped in with their deal to cool things off. So Obama hasn't exactly been a dove either. The problem with Ukraine was Obama taking too long to take action till Russia already made its move. That said, like Syria, that is in russia's sphere of influence. I would just leave it alone. Ukraine was part of Russia till it was taken as part of the soviet union break up. I say if they want to rejoin Russia, then go ahead. The UN and Nato are useless, always depending on the US to be their main support. Well I say to hell with them, they should muster their own forces if they want to take on Russia so bad. US is in enough shit as it is. Too many wars and we are still in a recession, despite what the media tries to declare otherwise.

 

I think part of the reason he did that is because the Pentagon fears that there will be huge problems if Syria's problems escalates as such as Iran becomes involved. Which will draw in the nuclear trigger-happy Israelis. If something like this happens the US military will not be able to handle it since Pentagon chief Chuck Hagen made the decision already to downsize military forces, shift troops to the Pacific and get the troops out of Afghanistan. 

 

The Russian Air Force even is arguably more advanced in that the Sukhoi PAK FA fighter jets actually surpasses the new F22 Raptors in maneuverability and (debatable) stealth technology. Meanwhile China is absolutely taking the lead in the space race as of this year leaving NASA in the dust with intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities a shown with their space programs being initiated as we speak.

 

While all of this is going on the US is downsizing the USAF because they are running out of money fast and in horrible debt from the so called war on terror and the trillions of dollars to find for the campaigns in the middle east. The US is losing their presence of power in the skies even with our array of B2 Stealth bombers capable of nuclear first strikes, which it was originally designed for, to replace the B52 bombers involved in Operation Chrome Dome during the Cold War.

 

The Kremlin are using this as their playing card to expand their Eurasian bloc and put pressure on the Pentagon in a crazy chess game. Sad to say, its hard to believe, but despite what Obama insists on saying (we intend to remain peaceable with Russia, yeah bullshit) we are really in truth approaching tensions never seen since the Cold War. Not good.

 

With the way things are going analysts know this will cause a chain reaction throughout the globe with conflicts it can become a huge mess. Secretary of State Kerry even alluded to a World War 3 like scenario. I was shocked when he alluded to this in recent talks. Crazy because I would have never have seen this coming as a no name American citizen despite how closely I pay attention to foreign affairs, the news junkie that I am.

[realizm]

As an update as per BBC news US troops has been sent to Poland for exercises for the obvious: handling the crisis in Ukraine. Note that the US Air Force is occupying air space in the Balkans for weeks now. Something is not right here. Obama and Putin are in this diplomatic game where they are making moves behind the scenes and playing games here keeping people around the world in the dark.

 

I'm keeping my eyes peeled and hoping this comes to a diplomatic solution because as I've explained if the tensions between Russia, the European Union and the US goes out of control it will become a very, very bad situation as this could create an explosive domino effect affecting other world conflicts not directly tied in to the crisis but either has ties with the US or Russia.

 

BBC News commentators and also established analysists for some reason keep on alluding to the 'lessons learned from WW1' and CNN are saying the same thing which is significant. Even Secretary of State John Kerry! I hope this is a mere exaggeration being that this is not coming from your local armchair conspiracy theorist on Alex Jones but established specialists with PHDs.

'

Edit: Source - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27136276