Russian Fighter Jet Collides with US Reaper Drone Over Black Sea
Two Russian Su-27 Flanker jets intercepted and purposefully collided with a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone in international airspace over the Black Sea
Overt Operator
March 14, 2023
Photo: Air National Guard
According to EUCOM
At approximately 7:03 AM (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, located on the rear of the aircraft
The collision caused U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.
Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9.
Russian and U.S. aircraft have operated over the Black Sea during the course of the war, but this is the first known such interaction, and represents a dangerous escalation in tactics by Russia.
It is unknown if the U.S. will try to recover the drone, given that the Bosphorus Strait has been closed due to the Russo-Ukrainian War.