[UPDATE – Mar. 16] Pentagon Confirms that U.S. Drone Intercepted Over Black Sea Was on Spy Mission

An MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle, intercepted by a Russian fighter jet above the Black Sea, was on an ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) mission, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder told reporters on Tuesday.

“DOD officials have not spoken specifically to Russian authorities on this particular incident. I do know that the State Department is raising our concerns about the incident directly with the Russian government,” the spokesman said, adding that the UAV “was conducting an ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] mission” at the time of the incident.

[UPDATE] The last seconds of the existence of the American MQ-9 Reaper

Collision of the Russian fighter jet with the MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea (Video)