Russian fighter jet takes down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Black Sea

Two Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept with an unmanned U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and reconnaissance MQ-9 aircraft, causing it to crash into the Black Sea.

The U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), which is responsible for U.S. military operations in Europe reported about this.

At approximately 7:03 a.m., 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.

Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on it and flew in front of the MQ-9 hastily. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.

U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa noted that it was the Russian aircraft that damaged the American drone, which led to its downfall.

“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” Hecker said.

According to command representatives, this incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea. These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew were dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation.

At this moment, the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. Navy is operating near the coast of Romania. It is not included in the Black Sea zone, probably because of the incident with the American drone.