Senator Lindsey Graham (U-DC) is trying to get the Libyan band back together as part of the effort to escalate a NATO war against Russia. In the latest development, according to the U.S. version of events, Russia took down a Reaper drone over the Black Sea:
The MQ-9 Reaper drone was making a routine flight before it was intercepted by two Russian Su-27 fighter jets on Tuesday. The warplanes dumped jet fuel on the drone and flew in front of it in a “reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” according to a statement from U.S. European Command.
One of the Russian aircraft then struck the drone’s propeller, rendering it unflyable and prompting U.S. operators to ditch it in the Black Sea. (link)
The Russian version of events outlines something akin to Russian pilots throwing a Pepsi at it. As relayed by Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov:
[…] “I explained the position of the Russian Federation,” Antonov said. “I stressed that the American UAV that was moving deliberately and provocatively towards the Russian territory with its transponders turned off violated the boundaries of the temporary airspace regime established for the special military operation, which was communicated to all concerned users of international airspace in accordance with international norms.”
“At the same time,” he added, “the Russian fighters scrambled to identify the intruder did not use on-board weapons or come into contact with the UAV.”
“The unacceptable actions of the United States military in the close proximity to our borders are cause for concern,” Antonov said. “We are well aware of the missions such reconnaissance and strike drones are used for.” […] “What do they do thousands of miles away from the United States? The answer is obvious – they gather intelligence which is later used by the Kiev regime to attack our armed forces and territory,” Antonov said.
[…] “Let us ask a rhetorical question: if, for example, a Russian strike drone appeared near New York or San Francisco, how would the US Air Force and Navy react? I am quite confident that the US military would act in an uncompromising way and would not allow its airspace or territorial waters to be breached,” Antonov said. “We proceed from the fact that the United States will refrain from further speculations in the media landscape and stop making sorties near the Russian borders,” he added. (link)
The United States govt/military justified their operation near the Russian border by saying we patrol everywhere in the globe doing these surveillance missions, so the Russians just need to stop being so sensitive:
[…] U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa routinely fly aircraft throughout Europe over sovereign territory and throughout international airspace in coordination with applicable host nation and international laws. In order to bolster collective European defense and security, these missions support Allied, partner, and U.S. national objectives. (link)
And, of course, Senator Lindsey Graham demands an immediate U.S. declaration of war against Russia:
Here’s a link to Simplicius site. He breaks down the drone take down with history, updates, maps ect.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/breaking-russian-su-27s-finally-down
And on top of all this, Russia says their going to get that 38 million dollar drone. Where’s the US?
It took a month to respond to Sy Hersh’s NordStream Sabotage expose.
I imagine they are spending more effort on the spin machine than on recovery efforts.
It’s in Russian controlled waters, disputed or no, you don’t wanna fight them for the debris.
Unless you wanna start another world war . . .
Russians shoulda just filled it full of holes’
Naw, they were wise to not fire on an American asset.
Knocking it out of the sky is enough.
They don’t need to fuel an American MarxMerdia war fever frenzy.
I cannot stand Wimsey.
Last night I heard a former Critter running for office yet again, mention he had been in Ukraine while under attack from the Russians. He said he wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Too bad Joey didn’t get to experience it. I wanted so badly to hear more and of course the hogs were on the loose, but I will go to another event and try again.
Not being an aviation expert, HOW is a jet able to nose a drones prop with either its nose or wing and NOT sustain damage and itself not incapacitated? Suspicious cat!
Lock these chicken hawks in a theater and make them sit through a double feature of “Threads” and “The Day After.” Scared the crap out of us years ago, maybe they’ll lose their insane urge to drag us into nuclear war.
I’m still trying to figure out how you hit the propeller that is smaller than the tail structures without poking the nose of the SU-27 into it. the Reaper flies well below the stall speed of a SU-27.. something doesn’t add up.
I also find it odd that they show the reaper as armed. it wouldn’t be armed for the mission it was on.
Lindsey sounds more like Joe every day…
The Ghost of John McCain speaks from Lindsey Graham’s lips.
So the pilot of a hugely expensive warplane flies it into the spinning prop of a drone? What do you think would happen to the warplane after that? The U.S. version of the story is obviously false
The driver of a hugely expensive pickup drives it over a squirrel. What do you think would happen to the truck after that?
Irate Nate is about to become more Irate because his example of a truck hitting a squirrel isn’t even remotely rational in comparison to this event and certainly is not close to any equivalent comparison. Left wing people use this sort of diversion tactic when trying to persuade you of some nonsense BS they are spewing. The control surfaces on all air vehicles are extremely vulnerable to even minor changes in their structure, resulting in turbulent air flow and even small structural deformations can lead to catastrophic consequences. Any plane hitting the prop of another plane can be lethal even with minor structural damage – especially at the speeds these fighter jets fly. Not a chance Irate Nate…not a chance…too darned risky and the damage would likely take both planes out of commission. I’m with Charles Harper on this one – our story of the other plane hitting the prop of our plane is pure fiction. Perhaps the simple act of dumping gas took our drone out. Now that would be a HUGE problem for us. A big enough problem for us to make up the prop story. Anyone of our enemies could dump gas on and take out our drones. Yes this is a big problem for us if something as simple as a gas bath resulted in a catastrophic failure.
Your genius keeps shining on through, Nate. Keep it up, son! LOL
The Reaper with electronics package, and SU 27 cost about the same. Around 32 million each. I think the Russians are getting a LOT more Bang for the Buck.
Heres a used SU 27 for sale.
https://www.globalplanesearch.com/listing/aircraft-for-sale/Sukhoi-Su-27B/279560
I see no contact. the inertia and weight of the fuel hitting a spinning prop bent it.
FLG
So here we are looking at our own government and media the way Russians looked at Pravda back in the Soviet era.
The Russian ambassador is correct. If the Russians flew a drone like that close to one of the US cities it would be taken out.
It’s provocation pure and simple.
Hmmm. Not if one believes the China balloon story. It appears we would allow it to traverse the entire United States. Now…maybe if the Russians called our government or Biden out for being child groomers or multigender activists….
The increasing cynicism of a growing number of Americans gives me a little hope.
Why would the YOU or the Russians think Bidet would shoot it down? We don’t shoot down Chinese spy balloons until civilains identify them and publish it!
😂😂😂
Sundance you kill me
The Russians know that American drones are operating fire control for Ukrainians and they want the hard evidence they can only get by downing a drone.
why should I care about any of this? Oh nooes, a USA drone was hit by Russian plane, in international waters.
Question: Does the USA have the right to have its drones flying around near Russia, in international waters? Yes. Do Russians have the right to harrass them? Yes. I’m not even sure if the Russians DO NOT have the right to shoot them down. Is there a treaty that says you have a right to fly drones unimpeded in international waters? Dunno.
Did the Russians make a mistake? Yes. If they wanted to destroy the drone, they would’ve shot it down, not rammed with a plane. And damaged their own equipment.
Another Question: What is it about SC republicans and Miss Ladybugs. Do they keep voting for him because they agree with him? Or do they not care, “OH, its just Miss Lindsey, shooting his mouth off again”?
should’ve used a balloon. Nearly undetectable and apparently cannot be stopped!
Graham seems to have forgotten who took out the Nordstream. I’d say Russia’s payback was rather mild.
So, will Mr. Graham’s hanging be televised? Pay per View? Asking for a friend.
Our use of drones around the world being controlled from inside the US was one of the reasons Putin pulled out of the IMF treaty.
Providing targeting information to one side in a no fly zone in the middle of a war made the drone an active participant.
If we don’t want Russian planes urinating on our drones we should stop trying to start WW3.
Okay; so it was a light touch, but not a mistake. Cannot imagine a pilot who has been assigned to patrol the outskirts of Ruskie Land making a mistake. What is the next step after getting a stern comment from the US Dept of Woke ? Hey be equitable next time. Ms AKA Colonel Graham is so anxious to to go to war – maybe since he had not spent a day on a hot battle field in the Air Force, he wants that chance