The first direct connection between the two major nuclear powers in the world say that this is an event with an impending conflict of one Russian fighter and one american drone.

But what exactly happened and what planes were involved?

What happened and why is it important?

Declassified footage released by the Pentagon on Thursday shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet making two passes at very close range to a U.S. drone, dumping fuel on it, a tactical pursuit that U.S. experts say they have not seen in the past.

On the second pass, the Su-27 passes so close to the MQ-9 Reaper that the image breaks briefly, indicating a collision. When the camera pans back, you can see the bent propeller, the damage to which is so severe that the US Air Force could shoot down the drone.

JUST IN – The US releases video showing a Russian fighter jet colliding with an MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea.pic.twitter.com/MHuGIUkxyL

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 16, 2023

Wednesday saw rare phone calls between Russian and US defense ministers and military commanders to discuss the matter, the first recorded collision between US and Russian (or Soviet) aircraft since World War II.

What is the US upholding?

US officials said the footage “completely confirms” the accident and fuel spill, adding, however, that it has not been confirmed whether the pilot’s actions were intentional or whether the intention was to hit the Reaper.

“Recently, we have seen somewhat more aggressive actions from the Russians,” said Gen. Mark Miley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to Miley, it is clear that the interception and pursuit of the drone by Russian fighters was deliberate, but it remains unknown if the Russian pilots intended to shoot it down, as this action could put them in danger.

What does Russia stand for?

Before the Pentagon released the footage, Russia denied any clash, saying the drone went down after “abrupt maneuvers” and flying “defiantly” close to Russian airspace over Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

As Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his American colleague Lloyd Austin, the flights of American drones off the coast of Crimea “are of a provocative nature” and could lead to “an escalation in the Black Sea zone.”

Which drone was involved in the incident?

The MQ-9 Reaper is a large unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by General Atomics. It is controlled remotely by two people, a pilot and a crew member in charge of sensors and weapons.

The aircraft has a length of 11 meters and a wingspan of more than 22 meters. According to the US Air Force, its main task is “intelligence gathering”, while it has a “unique ability” to deliver precision strikes against “sensitive objects of critical importance.”

The Reapers can carry 16 Hellfire missiles, which is equivalent to the weapons load of an Apache helicopter.

Like other drones, they are capable of flying at an altitude of 15,000 feet (15 km) and can remain above targets for about 24 hours. However, their main advantage is that they have these capabilities when their aircrew are grounded and away from dangers at the front or in any war zone.

Has there been anything similar in the past?

This is not the first time that a Russian aircraft has flown in close proximity to an American aircraft over the Black Sea. In 2020, Russian fighter jets flew past a US B-52 flying over the area just 30 meters from the bomber’s nose, causing turbulence.

During exercises in the Black Sea, Russian aircraft flew at low altitudes near American ships. In particular, in 2021, Moscow fighter jets flew very close to the destroyer USS Donald Cook, which was participating in a major exercise in the area.

^{Source: Guardian}