Reports :- SU-27 & MQ-9 “incident” over the Black Sea

[Gary]

Few reports on Twitter of an incident involving a MQ-9 over the Black Sea

An “Incident” involving a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Drone has occurred over the Black Sea, there are some reports that the Drone has been Shot Down, however an Investigation is currently ongoing.

https://twitter.com/sentdefender?s=21&t ... G-kmMbDR9Q

[Gary]

Russian fighter jet collides with US surveillance drone over Black Sea, forcing US to bring down drone, US military says

Russian jet collides with US drone over Black Sea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64957792

[Gary]

USEUCOM has crashed due to the traffic. Someone managed to get a shot of the
Press release before the website crashed https://twitter.com/wjhenn?s=21&t=x5DYf ... YbyL5Ul3Cg

[Gary]

USEUCOM back online https://www.eucom.mil/pressrelease/4231 ... nal-waters

[tm74sqn]

BBC Report:-
A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US drone over the Black Sea, forcing the US to bring down its unmanned aircraft, the American military says.

It says the drone was on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian jets tried to intercept it.

The US European command said the incident was the result of an "unprofessional act by the Russians".

US and allied forces will continue to operate in international airspace, the statement added.

"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 Gen James Hecker.

MQ-9 Reaper drones are large unmanned aircraft designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance.

[BOLLO]

18.56 DOD briefing saying the Russian jet dumped fuel right in front of the REAPER drone and then collided with it causing damage to the propeller.?

[Ghastly Whisper]

Beautifully worded propaganda. Obviously there is footage of the event, it will be interesting to see if its ever released.

Fuel dump...Contrails!!

[C24]

Interesting that it was intercepted. The last one that I noticed was operating at 56100’ or thereabouts. That was in February.

[jamesg23]

Interesting that it was intercepted. The last one that I noticed was operating at 56100’ or thereabouts. That was in February.

was that not a global hawk that you would of seen at that height? this was and MQ9 and I don't think they go that high.

[T_J]

Beautifully worded propaganda. Obviously there is footage of the event, it will be interesting to see if its ever released.

Fuel dump...Contrails!!

It will be a fuel dump. It is a party-trick and you can see how it can be used to dump large amounts of fuel during an intercept as a tactic.

See footage from Syria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvaQZEhlhA0


See 2:06 & 2:22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv7IFQAJF3c

[T_J]

Beautifully worded propaganda. Obviously there is footage of the event, it will be interesting to see if its ever released.

Fuel dump...Contrails!!

You can see how the fuel dump can be used as a tactic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvwqj85zuJM

[Agent K]

Interesting that it was intercepted. The last one that I noticed was operating at 56100’ or thereabouts. That was in February.

was that not a global hawk that you would of seen at that height? this was and MQ9 and I don't think they go that high.

Yes Jamesg23 agreed I think only the Global Hawks transpond visibly, and I've seen those too in the area on radar. I too thought the MQ9 was about 25,000 feet but quick research seems to indicate an altitude capability of ~ 50,000 ft.

[OnlinePhotoGalleries]

Would they be be able to retrieve the wreckage from that location ?

[C24]

I have checked and it was one of the Global Hawks out of Sicily that I had noticed. As stated, the Reaper has a maximum stated ceiling of 50 000’.

Has anyone found an accurate report of the interception height?

Of concern is the fuel dump tactic. If used against a Rivet Joint or similar aircraft there could be serious consequences.
The Fat Lady is still in full voice

[Thunder44]

Sorry but how does a SU27 clip a drone and not crash down into the ocean too? They story the yanks are coming away with doesn't make sense.

If it did hit the drone's prop, both aircraft would have been damaged and lost?

[Agent K]

Sorry but how does a SU27 clip a drone and not crash down into the ocean too? They story the yanks are coming away with doesn't make sense.

If it did hit the drone's prop, both aircraft would have been damaged and lost?

Until the facts become clearer, if they ever do, then it's rather presumptuous to state what did and didn't happen and why the "Americans" are not making sense. After all they have no responsibility to provide detail to anyone other than the military leadership.

I'm no expert (well a little I guess) but quite easily a prop or fuselage strike could cause limited damage to an aircraft. Have there not been a number of mid air comings together where one or both aircraft have retuned to base, I can think of the two Rafales barely a few years back and both RTB'd.

[POL]

Sorry but how does a SU27 clip a drone and not crash down into the ocean too? They story the yanks are coming away with doesn't make sense.

If it did hit the drone's prop, both aircraft would have been damaged and lost?

Nonsense, props are by design quite fragile, so other than a few cuts to the nosecone of an Su-27 (or at worst, the loss of the fairing itself), it's unlikely to be that seriously damaged it can't RTB.

ven if it did cause more damage, aircraft are strong and other than the fuselage skin, can take a hell of a beating.

Case in point:

[T_J]

Sorry but how does a SU27 clip a drone and not crash down into the ocean too? They story the yanks are coming away with doesn't make sense.

If it did hit the drone's prop, both aircraft would have been damaged and lost?

No different to past incidents where interceptions resulted in collisions. Su-27 and P-3 collision in 1987. Both aircraft were damaged, but able to recover and land safely.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/that-ti ... rents-sea/

Also no different to aircraft during formation flying making contact with each other and able to recover safely. During 2018 two RAF Embraer Phenoms collided during a formation flight. The crews were able to
recover the aircraft after the collision.

[Thunder44]

But if a SU-27 hit the prop, it would have to have hit the two tail fins. No way that it couldn't have.

Also if it hit the nose cone, it pretty much means a full impact. It cant be anything other than a full impact.

I personally think either the fuel release caused it to fall and crash or some EM warfare weapon caused it similar the the USS Donald Cook incident.

[Agent K]

But if a SU-27 hit the prop, it would have to have hit the two tail fins. No way that it couldn't have.

Not necessarily?


Also if it hit the nose cone, it pretty much means a full impact. It cant be anything other than a full impact.

Why does it mean that?


I personally think either the fuel release caused it to fall and crash or some EM warfare weapon caused it similar the the USS Donald Cook incident.

We can all personally think anything, it's best to wait till more detailed facts emerge.