- A Russian fighter jet collided with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone, causing it to crash, over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
- US European Command reported that two Russian Su-27 fighters intercepted the MQ-9 Reaper over international waters, and one of them clipped its propeller.
- The Russian fighter dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision, which the US military called “reckless.”
- The Russian Defense Ministry denied causing the crash and claimed that the two Russian jets did not have any contact with the US aircraft and did not use their weapons.
- The US State Department summoned Russia’s ambassador to protest the incident.
- White House national security spokesman John Kirby refuted Russia’s denial and said the United States is trying to prevent the drone from getting into the wrong hands.
- Russian intercepts over the Black Sea are common, but this incident is noteworthy because of its unsafe and unprofessional nature.
- The United States uses MQ-9 Reapers for both surveillance and strikes and has long operated over the Black Sea to monitor Russian naval forces.
- The MQ-9 was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the drone.
- The incident could be mitigated through diplomatic channels between Russia and the United States.
- The United States and allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace, and the US calls on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely.
- Several US Reapers have been lost in recent years, including to hostile fire.
- Reapers can be armed with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs and can fly for more than 1,100 miles at altitudes of up to 15,000 meters.
Russian jet collided with American drone over Black
Sea, says US military
