FILE PHOTO: View from USAF MQ-9 drone during incident over Black Sea
FILE PHOTO: A Russian Su-27 military aircraft dumps fuel while flying by a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 "Reaper" drone over the Black Sea, March 14, 2023 in this still image taken from handout video released by the Pentagon. Courtesy of U.S. European Command/The Pentagon/Handout via REUTERS Photo: Reuters/U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND
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U.S. resumes drone flights over Black Sea after Russia intercept

39 Comments

The United States has resumed surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea region following a Russian fighter jet intercept on Tuesday that led to the downing of a U.S surveillance drone, two U.S. officials said on Friday.

An RQ-4 Global Hawk flew a mission to the region on Friday, the officials said, with one adding that it was the first such drone flight since the Tuesday incident. Pentagon officials have repeatedly stressed this week the incident would not stop Washington from flying such missions.

Still, the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 drone on Tuesday was the first direct U.S.-Russian incident since the Ukraine war began, worsening already tense relations between Washington and Moscow as both countries publicly traded blame.

Russia has denied U.S. accusations that its two Su-24 fighter jets acted recklessly around the unmanned U.S. aircraft, and instead has blamed "sharp maneuvering" by the drone for the crash.

However, the Pentagon released a video on Thursday showing a Russian Su-27 fighter jet coming very close to the drone and dumping fuel near it, in what U.S. officials said was an apparent effort to damage the American aircraft as it flew.

It also showed the loss of the video feed after another close Russian maneuver, which the Pentagon said resulted from a Russian jet colliding with the drone.

The video ends with images of the drone's damaged propeller, which the Pentagon said was caused by the collision, making the aircraft inoperable and leading it to crash into deep waters.

The incident over international waters was a reminder of the risk of direct confrontation between the United States and Russia over Ukraine, which Moscow invaded more than a year ago and which Western allies have supported with intelligence and weapons.

© Thomson Reuters 2023.

©2023 GPlusMedia Inc.

39 Comments

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An RQ-4 Global Hawk flew a mission to the region on Friday,

With a flight of F-35 just outside radar detection range I hope

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

The United States has resumed surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea

Good.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

U.S. resumes drone flights over Black Sea after Russia intercept

Russia will resumes fuel spray, few galons of fuel that really cheap for taking down millions dollar of drone. That's really cost efficient compared take down a baloon with an expensive missiles, even experienced there was miss with that.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

Russia will resumes fuel spray, few galons of fuel that really cheap for taking down millions dollar of drone. That's really cost efficient compared take down a baloon with an expensive missiles, even experienced there was miss with that.

Not when you crash your junk fighters in the process of trying to clip the drone. Also I am glad environmental catastrophe is just another way of saying Russian normal operating procedures at this point.

4 ( +13 / -9 )

Russia now knows several things:

1: It's relatively easy to take down a US multi-million dollar drone without firing a shot.

2: The US is unable to convince fellow NATO member Turkey to allow the US NAVY to enter the Black Sea.

3: Russia can take down US drones over international airspace and Biden will do nothing.

-7 ( +12 / -19 )

The video proves, once again, as usual, that Russia is lying.

Unprofessional flying by Russian pilots, but I have no doubt they were ordered to get the drone down without using weapons.

Turkey is considering allowing US warships into the Black Sea again. I haven't seen any decision about that, just that they are considering it.

US drones will stop flying straight and level when hostile fighters approach. If they are going to go down, they should try to damage the hostile aircraft flying too closely. The times of sharing the skies are over.

The video proves what Russia did for the world to see. They should be embarrassed.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

The video proves what Russia did for the world to see. They should be embarrassed.

Check the rules governing right-of-way.

1: 'Piloted aircraft enjoy right-of-way over drones. Drones must yield to piloted aircraft in all cases. This is for the preservation of human life.

2: Piloted aircraft are permitted to dump fuel provided it doesn't endanger any other piloted aircraft or people on the ground.

No humans were endangered by the actions of the Russian pilot.

In fact all pilots involved in the encounter arrived home safely and enjoyed dinner with their families, and probably a few beers at the bar recounting their hotshot flying.

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

Russia attacked a NATO country.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Unprofessional flying by Russian pilots

Quite vice versa - highly professional! Brilliant! It were the Americans who decided that they could do everything anywhere in the world. Petty provocateurs

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

Quite vice versa - highly professional! Brilliant! It were the Americans who decided that they could do everything anywhere in the world. Petty provocateurs

Because they can. They can fly wherever they want in international airspace. Maybe the US airforce should act "professional" and start shooting down Russian planes in international airspace.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

Because they can. They can fly wherever they want in international airspace.

Yes.

Maybe the US airforce should act "professional" and start shooting down Russian planes in international airspace.

Biden will never go that far.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

Maybe the US airforce should act "professional" and start shooting down Russian planes in international airspace.

Just one snag with that plan.

There's standing order from the Pentagon that forbids US 5th Gen fighters like the F-22 or F-35 from flying in airspace that is monitored by Russia's advanced S400 air defence system.

The Black Sea is covered by the S400, so no F-22s or F-35s can enter.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

The Black Sea is covered by the S400, so no F-22s or F-35s can enter.

Fun fact: those aren't the only planes in the US arsenal.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Biden will never go that far.

Right, because that would be pretty stupid. Just like Russia downing the drone.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

As usual you do not know what you are talking about,I am not disputing the account,but GPS Coordinates would be all the evidence,unless the US is spying for Ukrainain,these drone take off and head from the Romanian coast toward Crimea

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

It is far harder to cover a lie, than to expose the truth. Putin can't squirm his version of Russia out of this one. While I may not appreciate everything the US military may end up having to do, I do trust in their ability to have actual authentic proof and evidence to back up claims like this.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

sure they can try good luck again,I am pretty sure that Russia have enough of stock of airplane fuels to use again.

efficient and cheap way how to neutralize US drones.

so good luck.

prepare new drones "top guns"...

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

Next time the US should explode their drone and take out the fighter planes,

4 ( +9 / -5 )

sure they can try good luck again,I am pretty sure that Russia have enough of stock of airplane fuels to use again.

efficient and cheap way how to neutralize US drones

It's not gasoline, it's more expensive than that. If you are fine with Russia being associated with environmental crimes in addition to war crimes, I guess you would applaud this.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

2: The US is unable to convince fellow NATO member Turkey to allow the US NAVY to enter the Black Sea.

Russia is also unable to convince Turkey for their warships to leave the Black Sea, so it's not really a US directed thing.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

showing a Russian Su-27 fighter jet coming very close to the drone and dumping fuel near it,

Very close to and near it.

see how small changes in small words happen?

what happened to actually hitting it and also dumping fuel on it?

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

shooting down

This phrase again.

nothing was “shot down”.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Russia playing with fire can get burned the best thing to do is as soon as the Russian aircraft decides to spill fuel it could be a deadly game all the drone had to do is shoot a flare and the fuel trail will go right back to that Russian aircraft making it a ball of fire

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Cards fanToday  07:52 am JST

Quite vice versa - highly professional! Brilliant! It were the Americans who decided that they could do everything anywhere in the world. Petty provocateurs

Because they can. They can fly wherever they want in international airspace. Maybe the US airforce should act "professional" and start shooting down Russian planes in international airspace.

It's international airspace. The Black Sea itself belongs to no one. Not to Turkey, not to Ukraine, not to Moldova, not to Russia. Anybody can utilize, sail and fly in the area. Just like the Gulf of Sidra also is international waters and not a Libyan bay as Qaddafy defined it.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The information obtained by these drones is used by Ukraine in their attacks against Russia. And Russia had declared a flight restricted zone in this area, so we can expect any future drone to meet the same fate.

Still, the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 drone on Tuesday was the first direct U.S.-Russian incident since the Ukraine war began, worsening already tense relations between Washington and Moscow as both countries publicly traded blame.

It might be the first direct incident, but only if you ignore the bombing of Nord Stream pipelines.

Russia attacked a NATO country.

So did the US, when they bombed the pipelines…

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

nothing was “shot down”.

A distinction without a difference. Regardless of how they did it, they clearly caused it to fall out of the sky, and that was very stupid. Weird how the "America first" crowd is again putting America last.

The information obtained by these drones is used by Ukraine in their attacks against Russia. 

Attacks against Russia? Lolol no, they're defending themselves. There wouldn't be drones there if Russian troops just stayed in Russia. Pathetic.

And Russia had declared a flight restricted zone in this area, so we can expect any future drone to meet the same fate.

Who cares what the lying liars in thee Russian government "declare." They've no right to dictate how international airspace is used. Pathetic.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

all the drone had to do is shoot a flare and the fuel trail will go right back to that Russian aircraft making it a ball of fire

Yippee-ki-yay, great movie. If this can actually be done they should do it, it would be brilliant.

The information obtained by these drones is used by Ukraine in their attacks against Russia.

This fellow still believes that Ukraine attacked Russia. Someone want to tell him?

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Blacklabel: This phrase again.

What are you calling it?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

USA claims full rights over the Black Sea and Sea of China and Pacific Ocean and Artic.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

A collision that has not been confirmed as intentional or unintentional.

exactly what the US military rep called it.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Regardless nothing was “shot down” and no fuel was dumped on the drone according to this new article.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

No, it's used for attacks against Russian targets in Ukraine. There's a huge difference.

The information obtained by these drones is used by Ukraine in their attacks against Russia. And Russia had declared a flight restricted zone in this area, so we can expect any future drone to meet the same fate

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Russia attacked a NATO country.

Facepalm !

Eyes a rollin .

It was an unmanned drone in international airspace !

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

USA claims full rights over the Black Sea and Sea of China and Pacific Ocean and Artic.

USA claims are just a wet dream and have no place in reality

Russia and China have a similar wet dream issue.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Russia playing with fire can get burned the best thing to do is as soon as the Russian aircraft decides to spill fuel it could be a deadly game all the drone had to do is shoot a flare and the fuel trail will go right back to that Russian aircraft making it a ball of fire

You obviously watch way too many Hollywood movies !

Do you think the jet was just hovering while dumping fuel ?

Very amusing thought tho thankyou !

Realistically nope not possible !

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

It is far harder to cover a lie, than to expose the truth.

Are you quite sure about that ?

Looking at the mass media and what people are led to believe is staggering !

It's situational as to whether it's easier to hide or expose truth .

As sometimes there's no evidence -hence no proof.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

A collision that has not been confirmed as intentional or unintentional.

It's pretty hard to claim it was "accidental" when the Russian Defense Ministry is awarding medals to the pilots involved.

It's very odd how the "America first" crowd continue to run defense for Russia.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/18/russia-gives-awards-to-fighter-pilots-involved-in-us-drone-crash

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-awards-fighter-pilots-us-drone-crash-incident/

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It's very odd how the "America first" crowd continue to run defense for Russia.

It's incredible how MAGA translates into supporting Russia destroying a US plane in international waters. One such American Vatnik here even claimed to have served in the US forces.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

USA claims are just a wet dream and have no place in reality

You just said the drone was in international airspace. USA claims are quite literally what UNCLOS says.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

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