Foreign Wars and conflicts

The video of the clash between the Russian jet and the US drone over the Black Sea

The fighter suddenly veers upwards, with the wake of the engine increasing dramatically. Moscow Navy tries to recover wreckage

16/03/2023

United States European Command via Reuters

The Pentagon released this footage of what happened on Tuesday, March 14 in international airspace over the Black Sea between a Russian Su-27 fighter and a US reconnaissance drone. The 42-second video shows the Russian plane approaching from behind the drone and ejecting fuel as it passes, in what U.S. military officials describe as an attempt to knock out the unmanned vehicle's optical instruments, and then impact its propeller.

The images do not show previous or subsequent events. Confirming the seriousness of the episode, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chief of Staff Mark Milley had talks with their Russu counterparts, Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the first since last October. Moscow accused the United States of causing the incident by ignoring flight restrictions imposed by the Kremlin in connection with military operations in Ukraine. Shoigu also spoke of "intensifying intelligence activities against the interests of the Russian Federation" in the Black Sea area, warning that Russia "will respond equally to all provocations."

Meanwhile, the Russian navy has reached the place where the remains of the drone fell, to try to recover the wreckage. This was reported by both CNN citing two US officials and the Ukrainian military authorities.

The Russian Navy has several ships in the Black Sea, including units based in Crimean ports, which has placed them in an advantageous position to attempt to recover the American drone. The aircraft fell in international waters, about 70 miles southwest of Crimea, one of the U.S. officials said.

According to US intelligence sources - reports the broadcaster NBC news - "The goal was to divert the drone from the course or disable its surveillance capabilities - so the 007 US - the Russian jets, would have dropped fuel on the MQ-9 Reaper, during an unprecedented action". Two of the officials said intelligence suggests the intent appeared to be to divert the drone off course or disable its surveillance capabilities. It was "the intention of the Russian leadership to be aggressive in eavesdropping," said one of the officials who said he received no indication that approval had reached Putin. Other officials declined to provide details beyond the "highest levels." According to NBC News sources, the Russian jet cut the drone's propeller — which the U.S. says happened and Russia denies — but it was likely unintentional, said officials, who believe it was pilot error, based on U.S. video of the crash.