Over the Black Sea, a dangerous collision took place on Tuesday between a Russian fighter jet and a US drone. An unmanned US military drone collided with a Russian fighter jet in international airspace over the Black Sea. US troops would then have had to crash the drone – a statement was made accordingly angrily.
The Russian fighter jet downed a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday after damaging the propeller of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone, a US official familiar with the incident said.
Drone crashed into the sea
The incident happened as early as 07:03 (CET): The Reaper drone and two SU-27 flanker jets were flying over international waters over the Black Sea when one of the Russian jets deliberately flew in front of the unmanned drone and spilled fuel in front of it, continued the official.
One of the jets then damaged the Reaper’s propeller, which is attached to the drone’s tail. Damage to the drone eventually forced the US to crash-land the Reaper in international waters in the Black Sea.
US criticizes ‘lack of competence’
The US Air Force accused the Russian aircraft of “reckless, environmentally damaging and unprofessional conduct”. “This incident not only demonstrates a lack of competence, but is also unsafe and unprofessional,” U.S. Air Force General James B. Hecker, commander of the U.S. Air Force Europe and Africa, said in the statement.
Potentially dangerous escalation
Russian and US planes have repeatedly operated over the Black Sea since the offensive war against Ukraine broke out – but the incident is the first known interaction of this kind, a potentially dangerous escalation at a critical juncture in the United States’ struggle.
But even before the start of the war, the United States was already using Reaper drones over the Black Sea to monitor the area. Reaper drones can fly up to 50,000 feet, according to the Air Force, and have sensors and capabilities for intelligence gathering and extended reconnaissance, making them an ideal platform for tracking movement on the battlefield and tracking in the Black Sea.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
