Russian fighter jet forces down US drone over Black Sea after intercept

[Scott]

 

 

A Russian fighter jet forced down a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday after damaging the propeller of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to the US Air Force.

The Reaper drone and two SU-27 Flanker jets were operating over international waters over the Black Sea when one of the Russian jets intentionally flew in front of and dumped fuel in front of the unmanned drone, according to the official. One of the jets then damaged the propeller of the Reaper, which is mounted on the rear of the drone, the official said.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/14/politics/russian-jet-us-drone-black-sea/index.html

[eisfeld]

Madness. Why would the Russians think this was a good idea? It seriously risks escalation and they have nothing to gain by doing this. It wont prevent the US from gathering intelligence in the area.

 

Do they want to really get WW3 going? Putin is such a madman... <deleted>?

[tgw]

Quote

US calling Russia’s actions “reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional.”

if that's the harshest adjectives the US could come up with ...

[Hummin]

The nature of the game. Do you seriously believe russia is the only one provoking? 

 

 

[eisfeld]

10 minutes ago, Hummin said:

The nature of the game. Do you seriously believe russia is the only one provoking?

There is provoking and then there is direct, open confrontation on neutral ground (or airspace). It's absurd and has no upside for Russia.

[liddelljohn]

The fighter jet collided with the drone and also crashed into Black sea , Hope the pilot ejected  , crazy Ruskies not very professional

[steven100]

8 minutes ago, liddelljohn said:

The fighter jet collided with the drone and also crashed into Black sea , Hope the pilot ejected  , crazy Ruskies not very professional

Hope the pilot didn't get to eject and died.

[eisfeld]

27 minutes ago, liddelljohn said:

The fighter jet collided with the drone and also crashed into Black sea , Hope the pilot ejected  , crazy Ruskies not very professional

Where did you read that? I've read the linked CNN article as well as articles by Reuters and BBC, none mention the russian aircraft crashing. They just quote the official Kremlin statement that both their aircrafts returned to their base.

[IAMHERE]

6 hours ago, eisfeld said:

Why would the Russians think this was a good idea?

Perhaps to see if it'd work. A practical test on their part. Why test or practice on your own Iranian drone when the USA provides such an opportunity. 

I half expect the Russians got a special made drone they WANT the USA to try the same maneuver on.

Nothing new here, the worlds navies are always messing with each other in such ways.

[tandor]

5 hours ago, tgw said:

if that's the harshest adjectives the US could come up with ...

next time they will add the word 'very'...then its getting serious

[Bangkok Barry]

It's only a matter of time. This year, next year, five or 10 years from now.

[VBer]

Speaking about provoking, what’s US military drone been doing near Russia’s border, in other side of Earth from US?

[seajae]

7 minutes ago, VBer said:

Speaking about provoking, what’s US military drone been doing near Russia’s border, in other side of Earth from US?

the drone was in international air space, it was not inside russias air space and until it was russia hd no right to interfere, typical russian belligerence, they really need to stop trying to show how big they think their appendige is but lack of brain power doesnt help them

[placeholder]

17 minutes ago, VBer said:

Speaking about provoking, what’s US military drone been doing near Russia’s border, in other side of Earth from US?

I always believed that Thailand and vicinity was on the other side of the earth from the USA. Or, rather, on the opposite side of the northern hemisphere.

[CanadaSam]

8 hours ago, eisfeld said:

they have nothing to gain by doing this.

6 hours ago, eisfeld said:

has no upside for Russia.

Perhaps, it's to quickly get a hold of the most advance drone technology in the world, to possibly try and copy it?

[VBer]

42 minutes ago, seajae said:

The drone was in international air space, it was not inside russias air space

So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

[Tug]

7 hours ago, tgw said:

if that's the harshest adjectives the US could come up with ...

I’m thinking the response was an attempt at de escalation belive me the USA could come up with very harsh responses indeed just not worth it for a drone obviously the Russians messed up imo it was in international airspace also some of those drones can defend themselves watch out!

[Purdey]

Of course, there's nothing for Russia to worry about.

Imagine if Cuba were to allow Russian bombers to use its airfield. 

[mikeymike100]

8 hours ago, tgw said:

if that's the harshest adjectives the US could come up with ...

Probably not, but maybe the US was just trying to be diplomatic?

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, VBer said:

So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

How about not coming close but actually violating the air space of other countries. In the first case with a topping of nuclear weapons?

 

Russian jets carrying nuclear weapons violated Swedish airspace

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/russian-jets-carrying-nuclear-weapons-violated-swedish-airspace/

 

Russia Violates Baltic Airspace And Waters, Sending Warning To Sweden, Finland

https://warsawinstitute.org/russia-violates-baltic-airspace-waters-sending-warning-sweden-finland/

 

Estonia says Russia has violated its airspace for first time by helicopter in highly provocative move

https://warsawinstitute.org/russia-violates-baltic-airspace-waters-sending-warning-sweden-finland/

 

Russian plane entered Estonian airspace without permission on Saturday

https://news.err.ee/1608484460/russian-plane-entered-estonian-airspace-without-permission-on-saturday

 

Russia has long history of airspace violations

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/russia-has-long-history-of-airspace-violations/436331

 

[VBer]

4 hours ago, placeholder said:

How about not coming close but actually violating the air space of other countries. 

This is answer to some another question, not mine. I will repeat it again: So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

 

[transam]

6 hours ago, VBer said:

Speaking about provoking, what’s US military drone been doing near Russia’s border, in other side of Earth from US?

I can't believe you wrote that....................

[Bkk Brian]

10 minutes ago, VBer said:

This is answer to some another question, not mine. I will repeat it again: So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

 

3 NATO countries are on the Black Sea, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania along with Ukraine, Russia & Georgia. What makes you think the drone was near Russian borders?

[eisfeld]

8 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Perhaps to see if it'd work. A practical test on their part. Why test or practice on your own Iranian drone when the USA provides such an opportunity. 

I half expect the Russians got a special made drone they WANT the USA to try the same maneuver on.

Nothing new here, the worlds navies are always messing with each other in such ways.

You don't conduct testing on an enemy vehicle in neutral air space during high tension risking escalation to full war. Doubly so when the other party has a vastly more powerful army. That would be beyond stupid in terms of a risk-reward trade-off.

[eisfeld]

7 hours ago, VBer said:

Speaking about provoking, what’s US military drone been doing near Russia’s border, in other side of Earth from US?

They are flying in international air space in collaboration with their NATO partners which by the way have a lot more border with that area than Russia has. Do you think the drone flew all the way from the US there? NATO has a war in front of their door step. Flying a surveilance drone in the vicinity shouldn't surprise anyone.

 

  

6 hours ago, VBer said:

So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

In fact they do regularily that. Here one such incident where Russia flew bombers in international air space near Alaska: https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-intercepts-russian-bombers-off-alaska-2-straight/story?id=97260923

 

How did the US react? They said it was no provocation and that it is not a rare occurance. They did not even think of downing them. And as placeholder wrote Russia even had repeated incidents where they crossed into foreign air space.

[IAMHERE]

14 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

You don't conduct testing on an enemy vehicle in neutral air space during high tension risking escalation to full war. Doubly so when the other party has a vastly more powerful army. That would be beyond stupid in terms of a risk-reward trade-off.

And yet the Russians seemed to have.

[placeholder]

2 hours ago, VBer said:

This is answer to some another question, not mine. I will repeat it again: So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

 

First of all, can you define what you mean by "near." 5 kilometers? 10 kilometers? 50 kilometers? 100 kilometers?  So, you got a number you want to share with us?

Second, the thing about actually crossing into some other nation's air space is that it's really not difficult to define, is it? That's an absolutely clear borderline. And one which is far more concerning. Whether it's "normal" or not.

[Salerno]

2 hours ago, VBer said:

So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

Are you just trolling or do you genuinely not know that has been a regular occurrence since the end of WWII?

 

"RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian planes near UK 136 times in 17 years"

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/raf-ukraine-russia-war-b2006812.html

 

Or how about a recent example (published 5 hours ago):

 

"RAF and German jets intercept Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace"

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64960706

 

There have been some "fun" interceptions over the years when the situation was calmer, such as American fighter pilots holding up copies of  Playboy for the Russian crew to see or "offering" them a can of Coke.

 

It's nothing new, the difference being a "mistake" in the current climate could easily kick off a major conflict. Now is not the time for cowboy pilots pulling stupid stunts.

 

A range of pictures from over the years:

https://acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/intercepting-the-bear/

 

 

[farmerjo]

$32 million for a drone.

[kwonitoy]

15 hours ago, VBer said:

This is answer to some another question, not mine. I will repeat it again: So, it will be completely normal if Russia’s warplanes and drones will be flying near European and US borders, just in “international air space”?

 

They seem to think so.

russia constantly probes the airspace over Alaska and northern Canada with long range bombers and there's also the Naval version, russian fishing trawlers anyone?