The Minister of Defense of Russia awarded the pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces for intercepting an American drone

Today, during a meeting of the Collegium of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the awarding of servicemen of the RF Armed Forces, who distinguished themselves in the course of performing tasks in the NVO zone, took place. The Gold Star medals and the Order of Courage were personally presented to the heroes by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

As Shoigu promised earlier, the Su-27 pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces, who intercepted and prevented the violation of the state border of the Russian Federation by the American drone over the Black Sea in the Crimea region. Russian aces were awarded the Order of Courage.

The incident with the American MQ-9 Reaper UAV occurred on March 14. The strike and reconnaissance drone was found in the previously officially declared unmanned zone over the neutral waters of the Black Sea, when it was moving with its transponders turned off in the direction of the Russian maritime border line. After the discovery of the drone, two Russian Su-27 fighters from the air defense forces on duty took off into the air, which carried out a “non-contact interception” drone.

Presumably, the pilot of our aircraft, demonstrating the highest piloting skills, approached the drone on a turn and dumped part of the fuel on it. This version is confirmed by the latest video footage, filmed on one of the drone cameras and later published by the US Department of Defense. As a result of the tactical actions of Russian fighters, the American UAV lost control and fell into the sea. After that, our planes safely returned to the airfield.

Commenting on the situation, the Russian military department emphasized that the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces weapon no use was made against the MQ-9, and there was no clash, as in hot pursuit after the incident they tried to present the situation in the Pentagon.

Judging by the number of awards on the tunics of our pilots, this is far from the first successful task that they completed in the course of their service.

Comments

[poquello]

that's right, shoot down everything in the declared zone

[Maz]

Well done guys, viva and respect, excellent aerobatics. Aces!

[Shurik70]

And the cool trolling of the Americans.
Well, we said that we did not touch their drone, we just flew by.
But those who flew past were rewarded.
:))

[Shurik70]

AX-XA-XA!!!
Be seduced!
Outraged that they rewarded those who caused damage to "US property"

[Himalayan]

I think it is necessary to comment on something - Sergey Kozhugetovich is brave and decisive, smart. I was not afraid to show the faces of the heroes whose families are very happy!

Such courage and intelligence require the award of SK Shoigu. Umnichka, the real Minister of Defense

Special thanks to Khaldei with a tray, giving medals to S.K. Shoigu! Here is a military, one-piece Major-Chaldean! Clever, hooray

[Cat Alexandrovich]

Not only smart, but also handsome! He looks like Winnie the Pooh from his native Russian cartoon!

[couch]

Well, what is there to comment on? GOOD FELLOWS!!!!!!!

[Alien From]

The second pilot is such a good fellow! But in reality, well done men, they shot down a reptile without a weapon

[Egorovich]

Biden, as they write or joke, announced condolences to the families of the dead Reaper pilots.

[Zoldat_A]

Yesterday I read that "during the crash of the drone, the journalist Arkady Babchenko, who was in it, died."

[Rumata]

Great. They showed their teeth.
And what about awarding the noblest of the nobles, the most worthy of the worthy Vladimir Yuryevich Grubnik with a gold star?

[Bogalex]

Medals "Gold Star" and the Order of Courage were presented to the heroes ...

I understand everything, the soldiers competently fulfilled their duty - honor and praise to them. But the level in fact of the awards presented is not too much?

[Murmur 55]

Bogalex , if I understood correctly, not ONLY pilots but also other military personnel were awarded, pilots were awarded for Courage and those who were not shown with Gold Stars (there is a category of military who are awarded without an OFFICIAL photo report),

[Bogalex]

Yes, no, I just understand that they were not awarded the Golden Stars - the article says this quite clearly.
I mean precisely the awarding of the Orders of Courage as a proportionality of merit.
Still, whatever one may say, but the destruction of the drone (in itself certainly worthy of a reward, there is no doubt) was not carried out in the face of enemy opposition, without risk to life and health, most likely with the approval of the command. Those. in fact, in circumstances, as they say, not requiring excess of duties stipulated by the duties of military service. We have a very extensive award system, which has other insignia that are much more suitable for the description of the merit of the crews.
But this is just my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong and I don't understand something.

[Murmur 55]

Bogalex, a delicate question, it is in emotional terms, it is not worth arguing, they awarded it means they deserve it.

[sabakina]

Quote: Murmur 55

Bogalex, a delicate question, it is in emotional terms, it is not worth arguing, they awarded it means they deserve it.

Let them shower me with house slippers, but I agree with Vodaleks.

[2 Level Advisor]

I agree with you, especially when you consider what the "land" "Muzhik" is given for - there is absolutely no flight next to the UAV .. we and the astronauts are the only country in the world where they simply give the "Hero of the Russian Federation" for flights, although from the time Gagarin - the risk and load fell by an order of magnitude ..

[I_Kov]

And what, should an officer hang a soldier's medal "for military merit"? For a ball shot down in Soviet times, they gave the Red Star.

[Bogalex]

Firstly, the medal "For Military Merit" has never been "soldier" and was awarded to officers en masse.
Secondly, this medal is not included in the Russian award system.
And thirdly,

For a ball shot down in Soviet times, they gave the Red Star

- let's say, although I doubt it very much. But the fact of the matter is that even in your opinion - the Red Star, but not Alexander Nevsky and not the Red Banner, if we draw very approximate parallels with the status of the Order of Courage in the modern system of awards.

[Himalayan]

He is kind and funny! How many lives have you saved! Not like s!
200 - Hirashima, Nagasaki were erased and the war was stopped - Surrender. And here we fight for every grandmother, every house - at least we are advancing. Because, as Ukrainians are brothers, you need to take care of the peace! And more dry rations for them

[Shkodnik65]

But the level in fact of the awards presented is not too much?
I think here, in part, there is a PR moment. The story turned out loud and the rewarding was indicative. And yet, in fact, Drying still rammed the Reaper. And to decide on a ram, and even over the sea, in early spring, in neutral waters is worth a lot. In the worst case scenario, ours could simply not have time to save the flyer. Therefore, I think the award has found its heroes.

[kenig1]

Who was awarded the Gold Star medal?

[Grossvater]

Everything already happened. XZ true or not, but I read this bike:
At the end of the century before last, in Turkestan, the Cossacks caught a gang of smugglers, including two Englishmen. It is clear that they are spies.
Well, what to do with them?
Yesaul, who commanded the detachment, scratched his turnip and ordered to be flogged and released.
The impudent people, instead of wiping themselves off, went to complain on command.
In the end, Victoria wrote an angry letter to San Sanych, demanding that the barbarian Yesaul be punished.
In response, Alexander III sent a telegram to the Yesaul: "Congratulations on the colonel. If I hung it, I would be a general."
They say that after that the intensity of the work of British intelligence dropped sharply. After all, there are many yesauls who dream of becoming generals !

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: Grossvater

XZ true or not, but I read such a bike

This is good, but a bike.
But in reality there was a letter with claims from the Queen of England, there was also an award. But on a different occasion and under somewhat different circumstances.
The first thing I found - https://hystory.mediasole.ru/kak_russkiy_kazak_vyporol_britanskih_officerov_anekdot_po_realnym_sobytiyam
I just knew what to look for - I read about General Komarov a long time ago, about 15 years ago, and I came across him by chance, becoming interested in the biography of his chief of staff N. Zakrzhevsky. Around the same time, I first read about the "esaul".

[The popuas]

Blown away like an annoying fly ...well done guys

[Mikhail Ivanov]

What was awarded is certainly correct. The only question is the choice of reward ... Nevertheless, for the Order of Courage, most of its cavaliers shed blood, and here is the downing of a drone. Although the very fact of the destruction of such a target and such a cunning one was able to please everyone. It would be right to start shooting down these birds on a regular basis.

[Neo-9947]

Cosmonauts, submariners, pilots... Professions are respected and risky even in peaceful life.
And they have nowhere to shed their blood. Either he returned safe and sound, or he did not return.

[Alexy]

Well done pilots, they performed a routine duty, they did not risk their lives, as in bakhmut. The minister should be silent today. The question is how to rise to the rank of medal-giving colonel?

[Ulan.1812]

The right decision, the men are worthy of the award. Real aces.

[Bob Denkin]

Glory to the heroes! well done! Beautiful!

[Tests]

Alexy (Alexy), probably, maybe I'm wrong, just like the Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief became a Knight of the Gold Star of the Hero of the Russian Federation. For many years I have wanted to read a description of his heroic deed... Although, since childhood I have known an anecdote about the Armenian radio... A letter came on the radio: "Can the son of a colonel become a general?" The response of the Armenian radio: "Nat, the general has his own son."

[Carlos Hall]

They deserve an award, well done. So the Americans will learn their lesson

[Alexy]

The Americans launched another similar drone. It flies to itself in the same place, no one touches it.

[D-east]

That's all, now sanctions will be imposed against the guys, their foreign assets will be arrested))