US Reaper Drone Downed Over Black Sea In "Incident" With Russian Jet

[awitness]

Several sources reporting...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/14/u-s...ussian-fighter

A Russian Su-27 aircraft struck a U.S. unmanned MQ-9 Reaper aircraft flying over the Black Sea Tuesday causing the drone to ditch in international waters, U.S. European Command announced.
The Russian Su-27 was one of two Russian aircraft that intercepted the MQ-9 in what EUCOM is calling “unsafe and unprofessional,” according to the release.

At 7:30 a.m. CET, one of the Russian planes hit the MQ-9’s propeller, according to EUCOM. U.S. forces then opted to bring the unmanned aerial vehicle down in international waters, although the release does not specify if those waters were the Black Sea.

The release does not say if the U.S. will try to recover the MQ-9. If it crashed in the Black Sea, it could be difficult, as the U.S. is not allowed to send warships into the Black Sea, as Turkey closed the Bosphorus Strait as a result of the current Russo-Ukrainian War.

In addition to striking the MQ-9, the Russian aircraft dumped fuel on the UAV and flew in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner” in front of the MQ-9, according to the release.
“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,” U.S. Air Force Gen. James B.
Hecker, commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said in the release. “In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”

The recent Russian actions are part of a larger patterns of Russian pilots that have interacted dangerously with U.S. and allied aircraft, according to the EUCOM release.
“These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation,” reads the release.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitic...nt-russian-jet
A major incident involving a US military drone is being widely reported as happening over the Black Sea on Tuesday, with NATO sources telling AFP there's been an "incident" and that an investigation is ongoing. Western military sources identified that a US-made Reaper drone may have crashed for as yet unknown reasons:

"Something happened but we don't have confirmation that the drone has been shot down. An investigation is underway," one of two Western sources who confirmed "an incident" told AFP.

[Idaho Bullwinkle]

Beyond 200 miles from U. S. Borders, there are NO Routine operations. Period.
I do wonder if that drone was armed.
The U.S. Corporation can not claim the Russians "Shot" it down so as not to "Officially" start WW3.

[lonewolfinoregon]

"REAPER" is the designation of the armed drone!!!

Which is what the US/NATO has labeled it...

So my guess any video footage released by the US will be heavily edited!!!

Good chance some of the Ukrainian attacks may have been US controlled drones!!!

[Pastor Guest]

Take a look at a photo of the "Reaper" and explain how a pilot could use his aircraft to "hit the propeller" of a "Reaper" and not severely damage or destroy his own aircraft. Ridiculous.

[consteacher1]

Agreed Pastor. both vehicles would have gone down. And what is our response? Joe didn't even say anything about it and his underlings essentially wagged a finger at the Russians and said you'd better not do that again! wow, that's telling them! watch for China to unleash the Norks against the south and Japan, China launches their attack to taiwan, Iran to hit Israel and China to attack India. WW3 has already begun. They want to get the job done before we elect a real president. get ready. prep and pray, the end has arrived.

[dmatic]

"REAPER" is the designation of the armed drone!!!

Which is what the US/NATO has labeled it...

So my guess any video footage released by the US will be heavily edited!!!

Good chance some of the Ukrainian attacks may have been US controlled drones!!!

Obviously concerning if we're bombing Russians with our drones. Anybody hear Russia's actual statements about this? Sadly, anytime our "officials" speak anymore, I do not believe a word they say!

[Idaho Bullwinkle]

I read that the transponder of the drone was switched off.
That would label the Drone as an aggressor and engaged in hostile act(s).
If one is ANYWHERE NEAR a war zone, it is a legitimate target.
And,,,, the drone flew into the hear by jet and not the other way around.
I wonder if the drone had missiles under it's wings?

[dmatic]

The U.S. lying again? First casualty...is the truth.

[Idaho Bullwinkle]

The U.S. lying again? First casualty...is the truth.

Governments are Fictions of Law.
Fiction is not "Reality".
"Truth" is not necessarily "Reality"
"Truth" is one's PERCEPTION of "Reality"

[dmatic]

Governments are Fictions of Law.
Fiction is not "Reality".
"Truth" is not necessarily "Reality"
"Truth" is one's PERCEPTION of "Reality"

"There is a reality my boys, and nothing can ever change that. However, truths, opinions of reality, are countless in number, and each is just as true as it is false." Siddartha, Hermann Hesse