The Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the RPA’s propeller forcing the U.S. to bring the Reaper down in international waters in the Black Sea.
According to a statement released by the US European Command, a Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter jet and a US MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft collided in mid-air over the Black Sea earlier today, causing the unmanned aircraft to ditch in international waters. The mishap occurred when two Russian fighters attempted an "unsafe and unprofessional" intercept of the drone while it was flying in international airspace.
According to the statement, at approximately 7:03 a.m. (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft collided with the propeller of the MQ-9 RPA, forcing US forces to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters. EUCOM says 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", demonstrating "a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional".
U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said that this act “could cause both aircraft to crash.”
The press release does not say whether the MQ-9 will be recovered, but it does say that US and Allied aircraft will continue to fly in international airspace and that Russian pilots should conduct themselves professionally and safely. According to the statement, at approximately 7:03 a.m. (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft collided with the propeller of the MQ-9 RPA, forcing US forces to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters. EUCOM says 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", demonstrating "a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional".
U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said that this act “could cause both aircraft to crash.”
The press release does not say whether the MQ-9 will be recovered, but it does say that US and Allied aircraft will continue to fly in international airspace and that Russian pilots should conduct themselves professionally and safely.
