Russian Fighter Jet Downs a U.S. Drone
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Russian Fighter Jet Downs a U.S. Drone
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These sorts of actions could lead to greater conflict and worse relations. Let’s pray.
From CNN. A Russian fighter jet forced down a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday after damaging the propeller of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to the US military.
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The Reaper drone and two Russian Su-27 aircraft were flying over international waters over the Black Sea on Tuesday when one of the Russian jets intentionally flew in front of and dumped fuel on the unmanned drone several times, a statement from US European Command said.
The aircraft then hit the propeller of the drone, prompting US forces to bring the MQ-9 drone down in international waters. Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder added Tuesday that the Russian aircraft flew “in the vicinity” of the drone for 30 to 40 minutes before colliding just after 7 a.m. Central European Time.
“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,” Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said in the statement. …
National Security Council communications coordinator John Kirby said the US has not recovered the downed drone from the Black Sea, warning, “I’m not sure we are going to be able to recover it.” …
‘Unsafe, unprofessional, and reckless’
Antonov, who was inside the State Department for a little over half an hour, said Assistant Secretary Karen Donfried conveyed the US’ concerns about the incident and that they “exchanged our remarks on this issue because we have some differences.” …
He also claimed that Russia “had informed about this space that was identified as a zone for special military operation.” …
President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday morning, Kirby said on Tuesday afternoon. Defense Department officials “have not spoken specifically to Russian authorities” on the incident, Ryder said. …
Kirby said it was “not uncommon” for Russian aircraft to intercept US aircraft over the Black Sea, and said there had been other intercepts in recent weeks.
But he said the episode Tuesday was unique in how “unsafe, unprofessional and reckless” the Russian actions were. …
From Los Angeles Times. When a Russian fighter jet collided with a large U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, it was a rare but serious incident that triggered a U.S. diplomatic protest and raised concerns about the possibility that Russia could recover sensitive technology.
U.S. and Russian officials gave conflicting accounts of the collision between the MQ-9 Reaper drone and the Russian Su-27 warplane, each blaming the other. A Pentagon spokesman raised the possibility that the Defense Department could eventually declassify and release video of the incident. …
Here’s what’s known — and what isn’t — about the crash.
What the U.S. says happened
The Pentagon and U.S. European Command said that two Russian Su-27 aircraft dumped fuel on the MQ-9, which was conducting a routine surveillance mission over the Black Sea in international airspace. They said the Russian jets flew around and in front of the drone several times for 30 to 40 minutes, and then one of the Russian aircraft “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” …
It’s not clear if the collision was an accident or intentional, but both sides agree that the Russian aircraft were trying to intercept the drone.
What Russia says happened
The Russian Defense Ministry said the U.S. drone was flying near the Russian border and intruded in an area that was declared off limits by Russian authorities. It said that the Russian military scrambled fighters to intercept the drone. It claimed that, “as a result of sharp maneuver, the U.S. drone went into uncontrollable flight with a loss of altitude and collided with water surface.” …
The ministry said the Russian aircraft were scrambled to intercept the drone but didn’t use their weapons and “didn’t come into contact” with it. …
Diplomatic dust-up
The collision triggered a diplomatic protest.
The U.S. State Department summoned Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov to a meeting Tuesday with Karen Donfried, the assistant secretary of State for Europe.
“We are engaging directly with the Russians, again at senior levels, to convey our strong objections to this unsafe, unprofessional intercept, which caused the downing of the unmanned U.S. aircraft,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Kirby said the U.S. will be “expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had not talked to his Russian counterpart regarding the incident, Ryder said.
Has it happened before?
This is not the first time Russian aircraft have flown so close to U.S. aircraft in the Black Sea that it’s prompted the Pentagon to publicly condemn the incident for putting the crews at risk. In 2020, Russian jets crossed in front of a B-52 bomber that was flying over the Black Sea, and flew as close as 100 feet in front of the bomber’s nose, causing turbulence.
Russian jets have also buzzed U.S. warships during exercises in the Black Sea. …
How are you praying over our relationship with Russia? Share your prayers and scriptures below.
(Excerpt from CNN and Los Angeles Times. Photo Credit: Canva)
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Have you noticed how close the Black Sea is to the US mainland – why you can almost see it from the Empire State building observation deck, right on our doorstep.
Lord in this time of everything being so convoluted and there being so much disingenuous thought-, and misinterpretation-,and outright lies.. Lord we need wisdom on how to pray about this I do agree with the other person here who just asked for our protection-, Lord..and I still again thank you for Revival that the hearts and minds of our leadership would be change from Evil to good..and those that are on the path of righteousness for namesake- would be encouraged to stay the course. Jesus mighty name, amen
Father, give our government wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen