On Tuesday, March 14, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea, damaging the propeller of the American drone. This is reported by the European Command of the US Armed Forces (EUCOM).
The European Command of the US Armed Forces said that a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided over the Black Sea with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. The incident, according to the statement, took place on the morning of March 14.
The US military claims that two Russian Su-27s carried out an “unsafe and unprofessional interception” of a US Air Force reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.
At approximately 7:03 am CET (09:03 Moscow time), one of the Su-27s hit an MQ-9 propeller, causing US forces to shoot down an MQ-9 in international waters, said in a statement.
“Several times before the collision, Su-27s dumped fuel and flew in front of MQ-9s in a reckless, environmentally unsafe and unprofessional manner. This incident demonstrates incompetence, as well as insecurity and unprofessionalism,” the US military said.
US European Command also claims that the MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drone was performing “normal (spy) operations” in international airspace when it was intercepted and shot down by Russian aircraft, causing the MQ-9 to crash.
“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional action by the Russians almost led to the crash of both aircraft,” said James B. Hecker, commander of the US Air Force in Europe and Africa.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the statement of the American side.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke about the incident with a Russian aircraft that led to the crash of an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle over the Black Sea, Daily Beast correspondent Shannon Vavra tweeted. The journalist referred to the coordinator of the White House National Security Council, John Kirby. Kirby said it was not uncommon for Russian planes to intercept US drones over the Black Sea, but that the incident was “reckless.”
Drone MQ-9 Reaper – modular reconnaissance and strike UAVdesigned for reconnaissance and long-term observation at high altitude, is also capable of carrying weapons and delivering pinpoint strikes.
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