A Pentagon briefing was held Tuesday night after a Russian fighter jet shot down a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.

Pentagon officials say the interception of the drone was carried out in a most unprofessional manner, endangering the safety of the Russian pilot and “most likely” causing damage to the aircraft.

A Russian jet approached the drone and tore off its propeller, prompting its operators to shoot it into the sea, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said on Tuesday.

The Pentagon claims that the Russians did not remove the drone.

Representatives of the Ministry of Defense have not yet communicated with Russian officials regarding the incident. “We have no information about radio communications between Russian and American officials,” the Pentagon said.

“As to whether or not Secretary Austin has spoken with his Russian counterpart, I’m telling you, not at this point, as far as I know,” Patrick Ryder said.

“Defense officials have not specifically spoken with Russian authorities regarding this particular incident.”

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What the US Air Force says

US Air Force statement:

• “At approximately 7:03 a.m., one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft engaged the propeller of the MQ-9, prompting the US command to decide to destroy the MQ-9 drone in international waters.
• Several times before the collision, the Su-27 jets dumped fuel on the drone and flew in front of it in a reckless and unprofessional manner.
• In addition to unprofessionalism, this incident also demonstrates incompetence.”

“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting a routine operation in international airspace when it was intercepted and struck by a Russian aircraft, resulting in the crash and total loss of the MQ-9 drone,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander of the US Air Force. Europe.

• If the message is to discourage us from acting in the international space, Russia will be defeated, the Americans say