In some following news…
Pentagon says drone collision 'likely damaged' Russian jet (Sky News UK)
“Drone interceptions are not uncommon, but "this type of behaviour is uncommon, unfortunate and unsafe", Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder tells reporter. He describes the actions of the Russian pilots as "unsafe, unprofessional," adding: "I think the actions speak for themselves."
Mr Ryder said the Russian Su-27 which clipped the propeller of the drone would likely have been damaged.
The drone's operators were forced to crash it following the collision because the damage to the MQ-9's propeller made it uncontrollable, he says. Asked whether the drone was flying near Ukraine, he says it was "well clear of any territory in Ukraine". He declines to comment on recovery operations for the drone, but adds "Russia does not have the drone".
The MQ-9 drone does have the ability to be armed but it was carrying out an intelligence and reconnaissance mission in international waters and the pentagon will not comment on whether weapons were on board, said Mr Ryder.
He says two Su-27s were flying with the drone for around 40 minutes, but there no radio communications between the US and Russia over the drone before the collision.”
