An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft from the 163rd Attack Wing lands for the first time at March Air Reserve Base, California. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter intercepted and downed a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea while it was conducting an intelligence mission in international airspace.
U.S. officials allege Russian jets acted unprofessionally, dumping fuel and striking the drone's propeller, causing it to crash, a claim Russia denies.
The incident is considered a significant development, marking the first known direct contact between Western and Russian assets since the start of the Ukraine war.
U.S. military leaders condemned the Russian actions as unsafe and unprofessional, warning of potential miscalculation and unintended escalation.
A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter intercepted and downed a U.S. Air Force-operated General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea Tuesday.
The Reaper was conducting an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission in international airspace over the Black Sea—a common mission Pentagon officials say predates the current war in Ukraine.
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