By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — When a Russian fighter jet collided with a big U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, it was a uncommon however critical incident that triggered a U.S. diplomatic protest and raised considerations in regards to the risk Russia might get better delicate expertise.
U.S. and Russian officers had conflicting accounts of the collision between the MQ-9 Reaper drone and the Russian Su-27 fighter jet — every blaming the opposite. But a Pentagon spokesman raised the chance that the Defense Department might ultimately declassify and launch video it has of the collision.
Defense officers mentioned the drone has not been recovered. But the Pentagon declined to say whether or not any effort was underway to collect particles or items of the Reaper.
Here’s what’s identified — and unsure — in regards to the crash.
WHAT THE US SAYS HAPPENED
The Pentagon and U.S. European Command mentioned that two Russian Su-27 plane dumped gasoline on the MQ-9, which was conducting a routine surveillance mission over the Black Sea in worldwide airspace. They mentioned the Russian jets flew round and in entrance of the drone a number of instances for 30 to 40 minutes, after which one of many Russian plane “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.”
Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa, mentioned that the Russian jet’s actions “nearly caused both aircraft to crash.” Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder mentioned the collision possible additionally broken the Russian fighter jet, however the Su-27 was capable of land. He wouldn’t say the place it landed.
The Pentagon mentioned the drone was “well clear” of any Ukrainian territory, however didn’t present particulars. A U.S. protection official mentioned it was working west of Crimea over the Black Sea. The official spoke on situation of anonymity to offer mission particulars.
It’s not clear if the collision was an accident or intentional, however each side agree the Russian plane have been attempting to intercept the drone.
WHAT RUSSIA SAYS HAPPENED
The Russian Defense Ministry mentioned the U.S. drone was flying close to the Russian border and intruded in an space that was declared off limits by Russian authorities. It mentioned that the Russian navy scrambled fighters to intercept the U.S. drone. It claimed that “as a result of sharp maneuver, the U.S. drone went into uncontrollable flight with a loss of altitude and collided with water surface.”
Russia has declared broad areas close to Crimea off limits to flights. Ever for the reason that 2014 annexation of Crimea and lengthy earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine final 12 months, Moscow has charged that U.S. surveillance planes have been flying too near its borders whereas ignoring the notices issued by Russia.
Nations routinely function in worldwide airspace and waters, and no nation can declare limits on territory exterior of its personal border.
The ministry mentioned the Russian plane have been scrambled to intercept the drone however didn’t use their weapons and “didn’t come into contact” with it.
WHAT IS AN MQ-9 REAPER?
The MQ-9 Reaper is a big unmanned Air Force plane that’s remotely operated by a two-person group. It features a floor management station and satellite tv for pc gear and has a 66-foot (20-meter) wingspan. The group features a rated pilot who’s liable for flying the plane and an enlisted aircrew member who’s charged with working the sensors and guiding weapons.
Used routinely through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for surveillance and airstrikes, the Reaper will be both armed or unarmed. It can carry as much as eight laser-guided missiles, together with Hellfire missiles and different refined munitions, and might loiter over targets for about 24 hours. It is about 36 toes lengthy, 12 toes excessive, and weighs about 4,900 kilos (11 meters lengthy, 4 meters excessive, and a pair of,200 kilograms). It can fly at an altitude of as much as 50,000 toes (15 kilometers) and has a spread of about 1,400 nautical miles (2,500 kilometers).
The Reaper, which first started working in 2007, changed the Air Force’s smaller Predator drones. Each Reaper prices about $32 million.
DIPLOMATIC DUST-UP
The collision triggered a diplomatic protest.
The U.S. State Department summoned Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov to a gathering Tuesday with Karen Donfried, the assistant secretary of state for Europe.
“We are engaging directly with the Russians, again at senior levels, to convey our strong objections to this unsafe, unprofessional intercept, which caused the downing of the unmanned U.S. aircraft,” mentioned State Department spokesman Ned Price.
And White House National Security spokesman John Kirby mentioned the U.S. might be “expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had not talked to his Russian counterpart relating to the incident, Ryder mentioned.
HAS IT HAPPENED BEFORE?
This just isn’t the primary time Russian plane have flown so near U.S. plane within the Black Sea that it’s prompted the Pentagon to publicly condemn the incident for placing the crews in danger. In 2020, Russian jets crossed in entrance of a B-52 bomber that was flying over the Black Sea, and flew as shut as 100 toes (30 meters) in entrance of the bomber’s nostril, inflicting turbulence.
Russian jets have additionally buzzed U.S. warships throughout workout routines within the Black Sea. In 2021, Russian warplanes buzzed the USS Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer, which had been participating in a serious train. Until Russia’s invasion final 12 months of Ukraine, U.S. warships extra ceaselessly deployed to the Black Sea in response to Russia’s 2014 assault on Crimea.
For probably the most half, nonetheless, navy intercepts — both within the air or at sea — are routine and have occurred a lot of instances with Russian plane within the Pacific, significantly within the north. Just final month, U.S. fighter jets intercepted two Russian TU-95 bombers in worldwide airspace off Alaska’s coast, and “escorted them” for 12 minutes, in line with the Pentagon.
And Russian plane have completed related missions, and in addition buzzed U.S. Navy ships within the Pacific. In a lot of the circumstances, the intercepts are deemed secure {and professional}.
It’s not clear if the Russian pilots have been keen to get nearer to the Reaper or dump gasoline on it as a result of they knew it was unmanned — and subsequently there was no threat to an American pilot or crew. The deliberate downing of a manned plane — injuring or killing crew members — may very well be thought of an act of conflict.
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AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
