KYIV, Ukraine – A U.S. drone was struck Tuesday over the Black Sea by a Russian fighter jet which only added to the Russia-U.S. tensions over the war in Ukraine.
The U.S. European Command said that two Russian Su-27 jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was collecting intelligence information.
The U.S. European Command said it learned about the incident just after 7 a.m. CET and that one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft hit part of the drone.
The Russian jet hit a propeller on the surveillance drone, according to The Associated Press. The US was forced to bring down the unmanned drone.
The MQ-9 was brought down in international water, according to the news release. Prior to the crash, the Su-27s reportedly dumped fuel onto the drone and flew “recklessly” in front of the MQ-9.
“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” a statement from the U.S. European Command read.
The Russian Ministry of Defense denied that one of its aircraft had contact with the American drone, and according to the New York Times, they tried to blame the drone and its maneuvers for the crash.
The drone took off Tuesday from a base in Romania, a senior U.S. military official said, according to the Times. The launch was part of a regularly scheduled mission that usually lasts between nine and 10 hours.
An MQ-9 Reaper drone is used by the U.S. military air fleet for surveillance and in attacks, according to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., the Times reported. It can Fly at 275 miles per hour and reach an altitude of 50,000 feet. It can also fly for up to 34 hours.
The incident appeared to mark the first time since the Cold War that a U.S. aircraft was brought down after it was confronted by a Russian warplane, according to the AP.
“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,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe, and Air Forces Africa, in the news release.
“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”
“U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely,” Hecker added.
President Joe Biden was informed about the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby, per the AP. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the incident is a violation of international law
