A russian Su-27 fighter shot down the U.S. Air Force unmanned MQ-9 aircraft that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea on March 14, 2023, the U.S. European Command reported.
“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 aircraft,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, the commander of United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and Allied Air Command (AIRCOM).
Read more: Russians Patrol the Crimean Sky With the Su-27SM Fighters
“The russian Aerospace Forces detected the U.S. MQ-9 aircraft in direction of the state border of the russian federation. Russian fighters didn’t use airborne weapons, did not come into contact with aircraft and safely returned to the base,” russian Ministry of Defense stated.
Gen. James B. Hecker also notes that this unsafe and unprofessional act by the russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.
UPD: The United States has summoned Russia's ambassador to protest the crash of an unmanned American drone after a Russian warplane collided with it over the Black Sea, the State Department said on March 14.
"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," spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
The incident marked a clear violation of international law, Price added.
The Reaper aircraft is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system. A fully operational system consists of sensor/weapon-equipped aircraft, ground control station, Predator Primary Satellite Link, and spare equipment along with operations and maintenance crews for deployed 24-hour missions.
The MQ-9A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is powered by the flight-certified and proven Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine, integrated with Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC), which significantly improves engine performance and fuel efficiency, particularly at low altitudes.
The unit also incorporates a laser rangefinder/designator, which precisely designates targets for employment of laser-guided munitions, such as the Guided Bomb Unit-12 Paveway II. The Reaper is also equipped with a synthetic aperture radar. The MQ-9 aircraft can also employ up to eight laser-guided missiles, Air-to-Ground Missile-114 Hellfire, which possess highly accurate, low-collateral damage, anti-armor and anti-personnel engagement capabilities.
The aircraft can operate up to 15,240 meteres (50,000 feet), and has a 1746 kilogram (3,850 pound) payload capacity that includes 1361 kilograms (3,000 pounds) of external stores.
Read more: West Holds Three Recon Aircraft Over the Black Sea At Once to Keep an Eye on the russian Fleet Movements
