A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US drone over the Black Sea, forcing the US to bring down its unmanned aircraft, the American military says.
It says the drone was on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian jets tried to intercept it.
The US European command said the incident was the result of an "unprofessional act by the Russians".
US and allied forces will continue to operate in international airspace, the statement added.
"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 US Air Force Gen James Hecker.
MQ-9 Reaper drones are large unmanned aircraft designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance.
So did they collide or did they only nearly collide? Make up your mind, BBC
So did they collide or did they only nearly collide? Make up your mind, BBC
If I'm reading it right, they collided, forcing the drone to make a controlled crash or emergency landing. So they probably both took damage, but the jet was able to keep flying whereas the drone needed to be brought down.Yeah if that's what happened the Russian jet shouldn't have been flying and went back to assess damage. It has been established they aren't the best trained military though.
So they did collide, and they nearly crashed.
EDIT: but honestly the bigger part of the story is Russian jets openly attacking a US drone over international waters. That's a pretty stark escalation on their part, even IF the drone was doing recon or something to give intel to Ukraine.
This will all soon turn in to World War III.God I hope so.
An unfortunate accident. Still wonder how you manage to instead on intercepting to hit the drone though.
God I hope so.
If I'm reading it right, they collided, forcing the drone to make a controlled crash or emergency landing. So they probably both took damage, but the jet was able to keep flying whereas the drone needed to be brought down.
So they did collide, and they nearly crashed.
EDIT: but honestly the bigger part of the story is Russian jets openly attacking a US drone over international waters. That's a pretty stark escalation on their part, even IF the drone was doing recon or something to give intel to Ukraine.
I didnt see anything in the article about the Russian jet attacking the drone. Did I miss it?
Replace attack with "intercepted and hit by" then.
Are you saying the Russian jet intentionally collided with a drone?
That seems extremely far fetched.
Are you saying the Russian jet intentionally collided with a drone?
That seems extremely far fetched.
No you don'tWhy not? This stupid species is doomed anyway. Might as well get it over with already and go out with a bang.
God I hope so.Wait... why?
The engagement began with the Su-27s fighter jets dumping fuel on the drone in a "reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner".
MQ-9 Reaper drones are large unmanned aircraft with a 20m (66ft) wingspan designed for high-altitude surveillance.
Shashank Joshi, defence editor for the Economist magazine, said the Russians may have been trying to intimidate the drone as it was hoovering up their communications.
For it to be lost completely in an attempted intercept is highly unusual, he notes.
Wait... why?Because he's probably 15 and edgy because no one sane actually wants that to happen.
Because he's probably 15 and edgy because no one sane actually wants that to happen.Probably still lives with his folks and doesn't work for a living.
More updates. Turns out the Russian pilots were fucking around with it:Dumping fuel on it? Wtf is wrong with these idiots?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64957792
EDIT: but honestly the bigger part of the story is Russian jets openly attacking a US drone over international waters.i like how every body of water is international waters for the US
i like how every body of water is international waters for the US
It seems that the Russian jet hit the drones propeller, so it most likely flied into it from behind.
In the busy international airspace over the northern Black Sea, the Pentagon says a Russian air force Su-27 Flanker fighter jet struck the propeller of an uncrewed US military Reaper drone, forcing it to crash into the sea.
Would a pilot really try to ram something? No concern with damaging their jet?There's a long history of ramming planes with other planes.
Are you saying the Russian jet intentionally collided with a drone?
That seems extremely far fetched.
We're now hearing for the first time from the Russian defence ministry on the incident.
Moscow is insisting its aircraft did not use on-board weapons or come into contact with the drone.
They say Russia airspace control systems detected a US MQ-9 unmanned drone flying over the Black Sea, near the Crimean Peninsula, in the direction of the border of the Russian Federation.
They accused the US of violating the boundaries of its temporary airspace "established for the special military operation".
Russia says it scrambled its aircraft to identify the intruder, but due to quick manoeuvring, the MQ-9 drone went into an "unguided flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface".
i like how every body of water is international waters for the US....what?
....what?Dude hadn't gotten the party line yet, so that bullshit is what they had to work with.
Russia's official response is now that the drone violated their "special military airspace" and crashed on its own without the pilots doing anything at all:Ah, much more believable than "Our pilot was acting in a very inappropriate manner and will be reprimanded by jumping out of the ninth floor window."