Over the Black Sea. In Russia’s backyard.
CBC
A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the U.S. military said, an incident that highlighted soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.
It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” The statement said that 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,” it said.
There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula
7 replies on “Breaking: US Downed It’s Drone After Propeller Strike by Russian Jet”
Hi Penny:
Three great reports today. Here is the RT report on the downed drone:
https://www.rt.com/russia/572980-russia-us-drone-down/
“Russia comments on US drone crash in Black Sea
No interceptor touched the American spy UAV that was approaching Crimea, Moscow has said”
“…“As a result of sharp maneuvers around 9:30am Moscow time, the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into uncontrolled flight, lost altitude, and collided with the water surface. The Russian fighters did not use weapons, did not come into contact with the UAV, and returned safely to their home base,” the defense ministry said in a statement….”
“…The US has admitted to providing Ukraine with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information in the conflict against Russia, while insisting it is not a party to the hostilities. US and NATO spy aircraft frequently fly over the Black Sea and approach Crimea, sometimes just before Ukrainian forces launch attacks on the Russian peninsula.
Last week, a US strategic bomber flew a practice run for a missile attack on St. Petersburg, while staying in international and NATO airspace.”…
*****
Do you think it was a repeat of the “USS Donald Cook incident” where the Rooskies disabled the vessel by way of EMP or something like that?
Hey GC
thanks for the link and I’ve added two of my tweets to the main post to explain what I think happened. Check it out!
You really have to wonder what Russian jets are doing in U.S. international airspace in the first place? [/sarcasm]
PS: Dear Penny, I’m fine. Best regards from the German-French border area.
Hi Gallier, yes that struck me as odd the claim that they were in ‘international airspace”?
I think it was incompetence or hubris which caused the drone to crash requiring a cover story.
And I’m glad you are fine! I think of you and your brother often 🙂
You can find me on twitter- It’s a toxic place for sure
However, I’m trying to promote this site because big brother is always working against me- my tweets are included in the main post
In a nutshell- The US admitted they, themselves, crashed the drone. So it was likely incompetence or error that forced the drone operator to crash the drone- too much of the story felt off and seemed like a cover up for what had really happened.
Can’t prove it- It’s just my opinion. Feel free to share yours!
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