US: Russian Fighter Jet Shot Down After Colliding with Allied Recon Drone... First Since the Cold War

Su-27 Fighter Jet Collides Over Black Sea
Strong Calls for Response Rise in US Political Circles

International repercussions are emerging after it was reported that a Russian fighter jet deliberately collided with and shot down a U.S. military drone conducting reconnaissance missions over the Black Sea. Voices within the U.S. political sphere are calling for a strong government response, and relations between the two countries are expected to deteriorate further.

Appearance of the US military MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). [Image source= US Air Force]

According to CNN on the 14th (local time), the U.S. European Command stated in a press release that "two Russian SU-27 aircraft blocked a U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone MQ-9 operating in international airspace over the Black Sea in an unsafe and unprofessional manner." The SU-27 is Russia's main fighter jet model, and the MQ-9 Reaper is a U.S. military reconnaissance and attack drone.

According to the U.S. European Command, at around 7:03 a.m. that day, one Russian SU-27 collided with the propeller of the MQ-9, causing the drone to make an emergency landing in international waters. Prior to the collision, the SU-27 repeatedly sprayed fuel on the MQ-9 and flew in a reckless, environmentally inappropriate, and unprofessional manner, the U.S. European Command pointed out.

James Hecker, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, strongly protested, saying, "The Russian aircraft blocked and collided with the MQ-9, which was conducting routine operations in international airspace, causing the drone to crash and be completely destroyed. This unprofessional act disregarded safety, and both aircraft nearly crashed."

This is the first time since the Cold War that a Russian fighter jet has physically collided with and shot down a U.S. military aircraft, prompting calls within the U.S. for a strong response.

Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the Department of Defense, said at a press briefing that "while aircraft blocking itself is not uncommon, most blocking actions are conducted safely and professionally to identify the other aircraft." He added, "The MQ-9 has flown over the Black Sea region since before the start of the Ukraine war, and the Black Sea is an important and busy international waterway, so it is not unusual for us to conduct missions in international airspace over the Black Sea. That area is international airspace and waters."

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said during a phone briefing, "This is a clear violation of international law, and we are strongly expressing our opposition to it." He also stated, "The State Department summoned Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the U.S., to the State Department this afternoon, and Ambassador Lynne Tracy also protested to the Russian Foreign Ministry."

However, Russia denies the U.S. claims. According to Russia's TASS news agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated in a briefing that "a U.S. MQ-9 drone was detected flying near the Crimean Peninsula over the Black Sea toward the Russian border," and claimed that "the drone violated the boundary of the airspace temporarily established for Russia's special military operation (the Ukraine war), lost control, descended, and collided with the water surface."