Russian fighter jet shoots down US drone over Black Sea

On March 14, a Russian fighter jet collided with an American drone, causing the US Air Force drone to fall into the Black Sea, reports with the BBC.

Photo: IStock

The drone was on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian planes attempted to intercept it.

The US Air Force European Command said the accident was the result of "unprofessional actions by the Russians."

“Our MQ-9 drone was performing routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and shot down by Russian aircraft. This resulted in the crash and total loss of the MQ-9,” the US authorities said in a statement.

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Before the collision, the Su-27 fighters deliberately dropped fuel on the drone several times “recklessly, environmentally unsafe and unprofessional”, and then allegedly damaged the propeller.

“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional action by the Russians nearly resulted in the downing of both aircraft and drones,” said Air Force Commander General James B. Hecker.

Russia said the drone crashed after a "sharp maneuver" and denied that the two planes made contact with it. The Russian Defense Ministry also stated that the American plane was flying with its transponders turned off. Transponders are communication devices that allow you to track an aircraft.

The MQ-9 Reaper drones are large unmanned aerial vehicles with a wingspan of 20m designed for surveillance at high altitude.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Russian interceptions of US aircraft were not uncommon over the Black Sea, but this was the first time such an interception resulted in a crash.

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The US has been using Reaper drones over the Black Sea to monitor the area since before the start of the war. Reaper drones can fly at altitudes up to 15 km. They have sensors and the ability to collect intelligence and conduct reconnaissance over long periods of time, making them an ideal platform for tracking movements on the battlefield and in the Black Sea.

The incident marks the first direct contact between Russian and US military aircraft since Russia invaded Ukraine and is likely to increase tensions between the two countries.

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Tensions in the region have risen since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US and UK stepped up reconnaissance and surveillance flights, although they always operate in international airspace.

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