A Russian military aircraft collided with an American reconnaissance drone over the Black Sea, damaging its propeller. US operators forced to sink MQ-9 Reaper in international waters, Pentagon says.

This is the first known case of physical contact between the Russian and US military since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year ago, writes the New York Times..

“Several times before the collision, the Su-27 dropped fuel and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, dangerous and unprofessional manner.. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to unprofessionalism,” said the US Army European Command..

The New York Times comments that the Russian attack against the American drone was not necessarily accidental.. Because dumping fuel in front of the MQ-9 Reaper was apparently a deliberate Russian act.. But US officials doubt that the Russian pilot wanted to damage the US drone's propeller.. Because he could also lose his SU-27.

The Wall Street Journal comments that the clash demonstrates how close the US and Russia operate to the war zone.. While both sides are trying to avoid incidents that would stoke tensions between them and expand the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“While the US has provided more than $30 billion worth of military aid and equipment to Kyiv, as well as intelligence, they say they want to avoid conflict with Russia.. Tuesday's incident showed how difficult it is to provide support in a war while avoiding 'unintended escalation'..

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US defense officials and experts were quick to point out the atypical nature of the incident.. In particular, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told The Hill that he does not recall that something like this happened during the previous year.. US and Russia constantly intercept each other's planes. This is nothing new. For example, in 2023, several such cases occurred in the airspace near Alaska.. But Becca Wasser, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, explained that the uniqueness of yesterday's incident is precisely that it happened to an American drone..

“The incident is very disturbing given the context in which it happened.. But the fact is that it was an unmanned platform. And that will likely reduce the chances that things will boil over,” Wasser told The Hill..

“We cannot now throw our countries into conflict with a hot head. We cannot allow the Russians to provoke us into something irrational.. We are talking not only about the United States, but also about 29 other countries. We must behave in a way that does not involve NATO and the US in the war,” said General and former Deputy Commander of the US Army European Command Stephen Twitty.

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Meanwhile, the British edition of The Guardian sees an escalation in the behavior of Russia. The publication acknowledges that Moscow and Beijing have " But destroying a plane in the sky is a disturbing change.. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014, Moscow repeatedly resorted to various dangerous actions in the sky. For example, in 2017, a Su-27 flew dangerously close to an RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft.. The following year, Russian combat aircraft flew in front of the nose of an American EP-3. In 2020, a Su-27 flew right in front of an American B-52 bomber.

" But the RAND analytical center believes that the version of a deliberate collision with the MQ-9 cannot be ruled out..

What will be the reaction?

Newsweek Quotes Former US Army General Mark Hartling Allowing Increased NATO Presence in the Black Sea.

“Perhaps it was a big mistake of the Russian pilot. There will be condemnation and demarche from the United States. Drones won't fly themselves. And American aviation and NATO aviation will increase their presence in the Black Sea in the coming hours,” Hartling said..

The Telegraph doubts that the US will take any action that could potentially destabilize the already tense situation with Russia.

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“However, Washington could punish Russia by giving Ukraine even more access to intelligence products collected by drones like the MQ-9 over the Black Sea,” the British publication admits..

Financial Times notes the reaction of political circles in the United States to the collision of a Russian Su-27 with an American drone. On Monday, Florida Gov. and potential Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said supporting Ukraine in the war is not in America's "

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