(ConcernedPatriot.com) – The alleged “collision” between a Russian SU-27 jet fighter and a U.S. Air Force MQ9 Reaper drone was not an accident.
According to reports, Russia was sending an unmistakable message to Washington and its NATO allies — “Russian patience with NATO arming and prolonging the war in Ukraine is waning.”
Russia is prepared to act against targets that enable attacks on Russian forces in Ukraine.
Reported footage of Russian Su-27 flying past American MQ-9 Reaper UAV before the UAV crashed into the Black Sea.
Not confirmed as authentic. pic.twitter.com/hXeym4Pawm
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 15, 2023
The drone in question was an MQ9 Reaper, not a Global Hawk. While the Reaper can carry a combat load, this one was likely configured only to do ISR missions *(i.e., Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance).
After the incident, U.S. European Command and U.S. Air Forces Europe issued a statement. They criticized Russia for a “pattern of dangerous actions” saying:
“At approximately 7:03 AM (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.
Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound, and unprofessional manner. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.
This incident follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.
These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation.”
Apparently Putin hurt the feelings of General Hecker and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Russia is always testing how far they can go. That is why Russian missiles fly over Moldova, dangerously close to Poland, Russian jets violate NATO airspace. And that’s why Russian Su-27 struck the propeller of US drone over the Black Sea, causing US forces to bring it down. pic.twitter.com/Ta3xSJZbi7
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 14, 2023
At least, that is the line of nonsense the Pentagon is selling to the media. The fact is that this drone was collecting intelligence on Russian forces in Ukraine, and that intelligence was going to be used to launch lethal attacks on Russian soldiers and Ukrainian civilians.
Interestingly, these drone flights over the Black Sea have been going on since February 2022, and Russia has done nothing to interfere with that activity until today.
I believe Russia laid down a marker to the United States and its NATO allies — i.e., this is a friendly warning; stop this, or we will take more decisive action to end your drone spying.
Suppose Russia routinely was flying a spy drone over international waters along the coast of Alaska near a U.S. military base. Do you think the Biden team or members of Congress would be unconcerned?
They would be demanding action to stop this aggressive act. But this is standard fare for the United States — America will do whatever it wants but howl like a banshee if it is done to it.
Nothing like a big steaming pile of hypocrisy to inspire fake outrage in Washington and London.
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