The American military deployed a squadron of MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and attack drones to support NATO operations in the region at an air base in Romania.
This was reported by the US Air Force Command in Europe and Africa on Monday, January 4.
"The U.S. Air Force has deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones and approximately 90 military personnel to the 71st Air Force Base in Cimpia-Turziy, Romania, to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance missions in support of NATO operations," the statement said. The MQ-9 in this key strategic area will reassure our allies and partners, as well as make it clear to our adversaries, that we can quickly respond to any emerging threat," added the commander of the USAF in Europe and Africa, General Jeff Harrigian.
In 2018, the US deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones at the 12th Myroslavets Air Force base in Poland, and in 2019 and 2020 they were transferred to Romania. Myroslavets is located 270 kilometers from the Kaliningrad region, and the Romanian air base is located 680 kilometers from Crimea.
The MQ-9 Reaper belongs to the class of medium-altitude and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. They were widely used by the American military to carry out pinpoint strikes on the targets of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The drone is capable of flying at a distance of up to 2 km and can carry 1,7 tons of payload, including guided missiles, aerial bombs on external suspensions, and is also equipped with on-board optical-electronic and radio-electronic reconnaissance equipment. The MQ-9 Reaper can stay in the air for 27 hours.
