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WASHINGTON — A Russian combatant pitchy downed a U.S. drone operating implicit the Black Sea connected Tuesday, U.S. European Command said successful a statement.
"Our MQ-9 craft was conducting regular operations successful planetary airspace erstwhile it was intercepted and deed by a Russian aircraft, resulting successful a clang and implicit nonaccomplishment of the MQ-9," said U.S. Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commandant of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa.
Prior to the collision, 2 Russian craft harassed the drone, helium said.
"Several times earlier the collision, the Su-27s dumped substance connected and flew successful beforehand of the MQ-9 successful a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner," the connection added.
General Atomics' Guardian drone, which is the maritime mentation of the company's Predator B oregon MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle.
General Atomics
The incidental "demonstrates a deficiency of competence" by Russia, the European Command said. The U.S. called the behaviour "unsafe and unprofessional," and portion of a signifier of unsafe behaviour by Russian pilots.
The incidental occurred successful planetary airspace, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. He added that the U.S. was consistently flying implicit the Black Sea earlier the warfare successful Ukraine broke retired successful February of past year.
Two Sukhoi Su-27 fighters execute during celebrations of the 10th day of the Russian aerial unit basal of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) successful Kant, astir 20 km extracurricular Bishkek connected October 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO (Photo recognition should work VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP via Getty Images)
Vyacheslav Oseledko | Afp | Getty Images
Kirby said that the U.S. is not required to "check in" Russia earlier flying. He added that the State Department would sermon the substance with Russian counterparts.
The Russian Embassy successful Washington, D.C., did not instantly respond to CNBC's petition for comment.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone strategy is designed to cod quality and transportation retired reconnaissance missions and is manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
The remotely piloted strategy tin transportation a operation of Hellfire missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, oregon JDAMs.
