A Russian aircraft has collided with a US unmanned aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea, causing the latter to crash.

Two Su-27 planes had attempted to intercept the US drone – named MQ-9 – by dumping fuel in front of it several times before the collision.

This was an attempt to damage the aircraft.

At approximately 7.03am CET (6.03am GMT) one of the Russian aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9 drone, causing US forces to bring the unmanned aircraft down.

A statement from US European command described the Russian manoeuvres as reckless, unprofessional and environmentally unsound.

The drone was on a routine flight in accordance with international laws to bolster collective European defence and security, it said.

This is the latest in a series of dangerous Russian piloting, the statement said, which could lead to “unintended escalation”.

US Air Force General James Hecker described the incident as an “unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians” which has led to the complete loss of an MQ-9.

White House spokesman John Kirby added that while there have been other intercepts, this one is particularly noteworthy because it was “unsafe and unprofessional”.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted drone used for surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as attack missions.

Whereas the Su-27 fighter jet is a Soviet-era invention originally built in 1982 to counter powerful US plane technology.

The former can be equipped with missiles, but the one that crashed on Tuesday was an intelligence aircraft, according to US European command.

The latter is armed with a 30mm gun, and is capable of firing a range of missiles, rockets and bombs.

He said that it was a “unique” in the fact that it led to the drowning of a US aircraft.

The US will continue to fly and operate over the Black Sea, according to Mr Kirby, who said that they do not need to check with the Russians when they do, as it is over international waters.

There has been no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about US intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

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