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When a Russian fighter jet collided with a large US surveillance drone in the Black Sea on Tuesday, it was a rare but serious incident that sparked US diplomatic protests and raised concerns about the possibility that Russia could recover sensitive technology.
US and Russian officials have conflicting accounts of a collision between an MQ-9 Reaper drone and a Russian Su-27 fighter jet – each blaming the other. A Pentagon spokesman said it is possible the US Department of Defense may eventually announce and release video of the collision.
Defense officials said the drone had not been recovered. But the Pentagon declined to say whether it had attempted to collect any Reaper debris or pieces.
Here’s what’s known — and not certain — about the crash.
What the US said happened
The Pentagon and US European Command said two Russian Su-27 jets dumped fuel on the MQ-9, which was conducting a routine surveillance mission over the Black Sea in international airspace. He said Russian jets flew over and in front of the drone several times within 30 to 40 minutes, and then one of the Russian planes “hit the MQ-9’s propeller, causing US forces to bring the MQ-9 down. in international waters.”
Air Force Gen. James Hecker, the commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said the actions of the Russian jets “almost caused the downing of both planes.” Pentagon spokesman Brig.-Gen. Pat Ryder said the collision also damaged a Russian fighter jet, but the Su-27 was able to get in. He would not say where it landed.
The Pentagon said the drone was “clearly” over Ukrainian territory, but gave no further details. U.S. defense officials said they were operating west of Crimea on the Black Sea. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of the mission.
It was unclear whether the collision was accidental or intentional, but both sides agreed that the Russian aircraft was attempting to intercept the drone.
What Russia said happened
Russia’s Defense Ministry said a US drone flew near Russia’s border and entered territory declared by Russian authorities. He said the Russian military was terrorizing fighters to intercept US drones. He claimed that “as a result of a sharp maneuver, the US drone entered an uncontrolled flight with lost altitude and collided with the surface of the water.”
Russia has declared a large area near Crimea a no-fly zone. Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and long before Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Moscow has accused US surveillance planes of flying too close to its border while ignoring Russian-issued warnings.
Nations routinely operate in international airspace and waters, and no nation can claim limitations in areas outside its own borders.
The ministry said the Russian aircraft was intercepted to intercept the drone but did not use weapons and “did not interact” with the drone.
What is the MQ-9 Reaper?
The MQ-9 Reaper is a large unmanned air force aircraft operated remotely by a two-man team. It includes a ground control station and satellite equipment and has a wingspan of 20 meters. The team consists of rated pilots responsible for flying the aircraft and aircrew members tasked with operating sensors and guiding weapons.
Used regularly during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for surveillance and air strikes, the Reaper can be armed or unarmed. It can carry up to eight laser-guided missiles, including Hellfire missiles and other advanced munitions, and can circle the target for around 24 hours. It is about 11 meters long, 3.7 meters high and weighs about 2,200 kilograms. It can fly at a height of up to 15 kilometers and a distance of about 2,500 kilometers.
The Reaper, which first began operations in 2007, replaced the air force’s smaller Predator drone. Each Reaper costs approximately $32 million US.
diplomatic dust
The collision sparked diplomatic protests.
The US State Department summoned Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov to a meeting Tuesday with Karen Donfried, assistant secretary of state for Europe.
“We are involved directly with Russia, again at a senior level, to send our strong objection to this unsafe, unprofessional interception, which caused the downing of the US unmanned aircraft,” said State Department Spokesman Ned Price.
And White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said the US would “express our concern about this unsafe and unprofessional interception.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has not spoken to his Russian counterpart about the incident, Ryder said.
Has it happened before?
It was not the first time a Russian plane had flown so close to a US plane over the Black Sea that the Pentagon publicly condemned the incident for putting the crew at risk. In 2020, a Russian jet crosses in front of a B-52 bomber flying over the Black Sea, and flies 30 meters in front of the bomber’s nose, causing turbulence.
Russian jets also hit US warships during exercises in the Black Sea. In 2021, Russian jets hit the USS Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer, which had been engaged in a major exercise. Until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, US warships were more frequently sent to the Black Sea in response to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.
However, in general, military intercepts – in the air or at sea – are routine and have happened several times with Russian aircraft in the Pacific, especially in the north. Just last month, US fighter jets intercepted two Russian TU-95 bombers in international airspace off the coast of Alaska, and “escorted” them for 12 minutes, according to the Pentagon.
Russian aircraft have carried out similar missions. In some cases, intercepts are considered safe and professional.
It’s unclear if the Russian pilots were willing to approach the Reaper or dump fuel because they knew there was no body — and therefore no risk to the American pilots or crew. Deliberately shooting down an aircraft – injuring or killing a crew member – can be considered an act of war.
What is the Canadian perspective?
Scott Clancy, a retired Canadian Armed Forces general and former deputy commander for the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) Alaska region, told CBC News Network “there’s a very big Canadian connection here.”
Clancy noted that Canadian CF-18s have been stationed periodically in Romania close to the incident, and that Russia has sometimes conducted “provocative flights” near Canada.
“This type of incident, which has happened in the past with manned aircraft, can be very disturbing for the escalation, as well as for the safety of the crew involved,” he said.
NATO and Canada must remain strong with the United States, he said.
“These provocative activities, wherever they occur, are an affront to peaceful operations and relations between countries.”
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