US State Department Raises Concerns with Russia
Pentagon officials have not directly spoken with Russian authorities about the incident, but the State Department is raising concerns with the Russian government. According to the spokesman, the UAV was conducting its ISR mission at the time of the incident.
LATEST: The Pentagon has confirmed an incident involving a drone over the Black Sea, and the State Department is raising concerns to the Russian government.
— Paryte (@Parytecom) March 14, 2023
Pentagon Withholds Information on Drone's Armament
When questioned about the drone's armament status, Ryder refused to provide specific details, stating that the MQ-9 can be armed but not confirming whether this particular aircraft was.