A former jet pilot tells that the fuel discharge was likely an attempt to bring down the unmanned drone, while the collision was almost certainly unintentional. Since the incident, tensions have escalated, prompting contacts between the top commanders of the United States and Russia.
The US Air Force has released a video purporting to show a Russian aircraft intercepting an American drone over the Black Sea and dumping fuel on it.
According to the report, two Russian Su-27 aircraft flew close to the MQ-9 Reaper. Before one of them struck its propeller, causing remote operators to crash it into the ocean.
As fighting persists in nearby Ukraine, Tuesday’s incident demonstrates the growing likelihood of confrontation between superpowers.
Brigadier Pat Ryder defended the United States’ decision to release the footage by stating that it was essential to demonstrate the “reckless” and “dangerous” behavior of the Russians.
He stated that the United States “took steps to protect information aboard the aircraft” and that Russia is “likely making an effort” to retrieve the drone’s debris.
“It is highly unlikely that they can recover anything of value,” he said.
Mr. Ryder added that the United States does not wish to conflict with Russia and will continue to assist Ukraine.
According to retired air vice-marshal Sean Bell, the jet’s maneuver was likely an attempt to “wash the fuel into the drone’s engine and therefore remove it.”
“As he pulls the aircraft up, he lacks the aerodynamics because he’s not flying very fast… [the plane] gets very close to the drone’s body and almost certainly just clips the propeller,” he told.
Mr. Bell called the pilot “incompetent” but believed the collision was unintentional because it endangered the Russian plane.
The MQ-9 Reaper, which has a wing span of 20 meters (66 feet) and costs approximately $32 million (£26 million), is frequently used for surveillance but can also be equipped.
American officials have accused Russian pilots of “recklessness, environmental irresponsibility, and lack of professionalism”
Moscow claims the drone crashed due to “aggressive maneuvering” and that they had no touch with it.
It was reported that the Reaper was approaching the Russian frontier with its transponders — wireless communication devices — disabled.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, accused the US of violating flight restrictions due to the Ukraine war.
The United States has maintained that the drone was in international airspace and far from the conflict zone.
The severity of the incident prompted the first calls between the countries’ defense secretaries and senior commanders since October.
Russia has stated that it will attempt to recover the drone’s remains. An anonymous US source told Reuters that no components have been recovered yet.
Washington said the plane landed in water between 1,200 and 1,500 meters deep and that sensitive data was protected.
US officials say the US won’t recover without ships in the area.
Next day, British and German fighter jets intercepted a Russian plane that had failed to contact Estonian air traffic control.
The Department of Defense characterized the mission as “routine.”
