MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line as remotely piloted aircraft crews wait for the fog to clear 06112017 CREDIT US Dept of Def.jpg
One of the Russian Su-27 aircraft is said to have struck the propeller of the MQ-9 (Picture: US Department of Defense).
Russia

Russian fighter jet collides with American surveillance aircraft over Black Sea

MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line as remotely piloted aircraft crews wait for the fog to clear 06112017 CREDIT US Dept of Def.jpg
One of the Russian Su-27 aircraft is said to have struck the propeller of the MQ-9 (Picture: US Department of Defense).

A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US surveillance drone, causing enough damage to force the unmanned aircraft to crash-land in international waters.

A statement from the US European Command says that prior to the collision, two Russian military Su-27 aircraft conducted an "unsafe and unprofessional intercept" with the US Air Force MQ-9 aircraft operating over the Black Sea.

"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," said US Air Force General James B Hecker, commander, US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), and attack missions.

Related topics

Join Our Newsletter

WatchUsOn

Prince William thanks UK troops for 'defending our freedoms'

Iraq War: Hearts and Minds - a very British tactic

LIVE Army v Navy Inter Services men’s football