A US military drone was 'brought down' in international waters after it was struck by a Russian fighter jet.
The US European Command said the MQ-9 drone was flying over the Black Sea and came down in international waters following an 'unsafe intercept' by the SU-27 aircraft. It has resulted in the 'complete loss' of the drone.
The US military in a statement that it was caused by the Russian jet striking the drone's propeller - after having already dumped fuel and flown in front of the MQ-9 in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner” prior to the collision.
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US forces then had to bring the MQ-9 down in the water.
The US European Command statement added: "This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional."
The incident comes amid soaring Russian-US tensions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa said: "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.
"In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.
“U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely."
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