It was revealed Thursday morning by the Department of Defense in a video that two Russian fighter jets had harassed a U.S. military drone over international seas. Due to the resulting accident, the entire drone was lost.
An unmanned U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance MQ-9 plane was shot down by two Russian Su-27 jets on March 14, 2023, according to a statement released by U.S. European Command. The incident occurred over the Black Sea in international airspace. U.S. forces had to force the MQ-9 to crash in international seas after Russian Su-27s struck its propeller and spilled fuel on it.
U.S. European Command published a statement on Tuesday saying the drone had been harassed many times by the two planes while “performing legitimate operations in international airspace.”
U.S. Air Force General James B. Hecker, who oversees U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, has stated that American and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace. To paraphrase, “We urge the Russians to behave responsibly and securely.”
In international airspace, Russian pilots have displayed a “pattern of unsafe behavior,” according to the statement. It’s possible that “miscalculation and accidental escalation” might result from any of these steps.
Aircraft from the “U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa” frequently fly across the European territory and international airspace. This is accomplished by acting following the norms established by the host nation and the international community. “These activities promote Allied, partner, and U.S. national aims to better European defense and security as a whole,” the State Department states.
Secretary of the Russian Security Council and former director of the Federal Security Bureau (FSB) Nikolai Patrushev have stated that Russia’s military forces will attempt to retrieve the $32 million drone from the Black Sea.
As Patrushev put it during a news conference, “The Americans keep insisting that they are not taking part in hostilities.” This is further evidence that they are taking part in the ongoing fight.
This is not being viewed as an act of war by the United States, according to U.S. General Mark Milley’s statement on Wednesday. And according to Milley, messes will be made. I think we should figure out what’s going on and stop worrying about starting a war with Russia.