Did Russia just provoke the United States military? The United States European Command revealed on Tuesday that a Russian jet had collided with an unmanned U.S. Air Force drone in international airspace over the Black Sea west of Crimea.
This is a new movement from Russia in there was against Ukraine and could response to the significant aid that has come recently from America.
According to EUCOM, “two Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept with a U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea” on Tuesday, causing “complete loss of the MQ-9.”
The drone’s propeller was reportedly damaged and the drone fell into the Black Sea between Ukraine and Russia.
The intercept recording said, “one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters,” EUCOM described. “Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” the military added.
U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said the U.S. was “conducting routine operations in international airspace” when the Russian jets intercepted it.
Hecker then promised that “U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace” and issued a call for “the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely.”
EUCOM went further saying that taking down the American drone “follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.”
The U.S. military warned that these “aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation” should they continue.
❗Russian Su-27 Jet Reportedly Collided With A US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over The Black Sea – Moscow
The propeller to the drone was reportedly damaged and the drone fell into the Black Sea, west of Crimea (Ukraine and Russia) pic.twitter.com/RSvma44RkF
— Douglas Mayaka™ (@DougMayaka) March 14, 2023
According to U.S. European Command, early this morning a Russian Su-27 conducted an Interception of a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper on Mission over the Black Sea, at some point the Russian Aircraft collided with the Drone causing the Drone to Crash into the Black Sea. pic.twitter.com/knexGGGr7i
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 14, 2023
REPORTER: "Was this collision itself an accident on Russia's behalf?"
PENTAGON SPOX: "It was unsafe, unprofessional, and I think the actions speak for themselves." pic.twitter.com/j9xmSn80iV
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 14, 2023