Today a U.S. military aircraft was downed by a Russian jet in international airspace over the Black Sea.
A Russian fighter jet intercepted a U.S. Air Force drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, according to U.S. officials who decried the environmental impact of the incident.
Two Russian Su-27 fighters pursued an American MQ-9 Reaper, an unmanned surveillance drone, then flew in front of the aircraft multiple times and dumped fuel on it. One of the jets then damaged the drone’s propeller, forcing the Air Force to bring the aircraft down “in international waters,” likely destroying the craft.
In a statement, the United States slammed the Russian pilots for acting “in a reckless, environmentally unsound, and unprofessional manner” and accused the Russian pilots of demonstrating “a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.”
The US Air Force says that a US Reaper UCAV was forced down by two Russian Su-27 fighters (presumably from the 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment) in the Black Sea. "Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9."https://t.co/kQj5HAAGxf pic.twitter.com/fBiPsIoyOE
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 14, 2023
White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby said the incident was “not uncommon” but highlighted the apparent escalation from Russia.
“It is not uncommon for there to be intercepts by Russian aircraft of U.S. aircraft over the Black Sea,” said Kirby, according to The Hill. He explained, “There have been, even in just recent weeks, there have been other intercepts. But this one obviously is noteworthy because of how unsafe and unprofessional it was … in causing the downing of one of our aircraft.”
Later, Kirby again stressed that the interception was “not uncommon,” and emphasized that the American aircraft “was operating in international airspace over international waters and posed a threat to nobody.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defense later released its own statement, claiming the drone was behaving abnormally and flying toward Russian airspace at the time of the interception.
“The drone flight was carried out with its transponders turned off and violated the boundaries” of the country’s “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine, Russia’s MOD claimed. “As a result of sharp maneuvering at about 9:30 (Moscow time), the MQ-9 drone went into an unguided flight and collided with the water surface.”
The Kremlin further stressed that the Russian jets “did not use their onboard weapons, did not come into contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and returned safely to their home airfield.”
RU MOD statement on the Reaper pic.twitter.com/ADzG3kXykL
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) March 14, 2023
Foreign analysts have speculated that the event may represent a Russian attempt to gauge America’s commitment to aiding Ukraine by flying aircraft over the Black Sea.
Gonzalo Lira, a foreign journalist currently living in Ukraine, described the Russian actions as “a message – and a test.”
“They brought down this American surveillance drone, and they’re going to see how the US reacts,” wrote Lira. “Will the US go to war over a drone? Probably not. So [Russia] will start downing US Black Sea drones regularly.”
It's basically a message—and a test.
The Black Sea is now a Russian lake. They brought down this American surveillance drone, and they’re going to see how the US reacts.
Will the US go to war over a drone? Probably not.
So RF will start downing US Black Sea drones regularly. https://t.co/dupL1XtawY
— Gonzalo Lira (@GonzaloLira1968) March 14, 2023
The United States has led the West in sending billions of dollars worth of aid, weapons, and money to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country last year.
Russia claims the invasion, which it still terms a “special military operation,” was warranted due to the threat of Ukrainian state violence against ethnic Russians living in the disputed Donbass region of the country. Ukraine and its allies, meanwhile, maintain that the invasion was unprovoked.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated with additional information as it becomes available.
