WATERLOO – Over the Black Sea on Tuesday, a Russian plane collided with a U.S. Air Force drone, resulting in a "unsafe and unprofessional intercept," according to the U.S. military.
Two Russian SU-27 jets engaged in an intercept of a MQ-9 drone early on Tuesday, which exposed the pilots' "lack of competency," according to a statement from U.S. European Command. The drone's propeller was clipped by one of the fighters, forcing American controllers to shoot it down in international waters.President Joseph Biden was updated on the event by national security advisor Jake Sullivan, according to John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, on Tuesday. In recent weeks, Russian pilots have intercepted American jets, but not in such a "reckless" way, according to Kirby.
It was the first time an intercept caused one of our drones to splash, according to Kirby.
Kirby and military representatives emphasized that when the Reaper drone was shot down, it was flying in international territory. Before the crash, the Russian fighters fuelled the drone and flew in front of it.
Air Force Gen. James Hecker, head of the U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said in a statement that one of his MQ-9 aircraft was engaged in routine operations in international airspace when it was detected and struck by a Russian aircraft. In fact, the Russians' careless and unprofessional behavior almost resulted in the collision of both aircraft.
Aircraft from the United States and its allies will continue to fly in international airspace, and Hecker urged the Russians to act responsibly and professionally.
According to European Command, Russian pilots engaged in "a pattern of risky behaviour" before the incident on Tuesday.
The statement claimed that the Russian aircrew's aggressive tactics were risky and might result in a mistake or an unintentional escalation.
State Department representatives want to raise concerns about this risky and careless intercept directly with their Russian colleagues, Kirby said.
According to Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, the Russian airplanes buzzed the drone for about 30 minutes before it crashed. The Russian fighter was hurt in the crash, but it managed to land, he claimed.
The MQ-9 was crash-landed into the water by American drone operators, according to Ryder.
The drone disaster occurs as relations with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine are at an all-time high. The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $30 billion in military assistance since Russia invaded the country in February 2022.
According to Mary Ellen O'Connell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School who specializes in international law and the use of force, the United States shouldn't retaliate directly against Russia.
Even though the drone was undoubtedly spying for Ukraine, she said that Russia's interference with the Reaper was legal under the rules of armed conflict, even if it had more effective alternatives.
To now, the United States has been effective in supporting Ukraine without directly confronting Russia, according to O'Connell. "That strategy needs to be maintained."
Originally published on USA TODAY, this article says: US Air Force drone and Russian fighter jet collision over the Black Sea.
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