The crash between a Russian fighter jet and a US drone is likely the result of the pilot’s aggressiveness and “incompetence,” according to former astronaut and Navy captain Senator Mark Kelly.
“Look at the level of incompetence – I mean, when we saw the flanker yesterday, who basically frolicked in mid-air with the MQ-9 [drone]with a reaper… I spent 15 years in the astronaut office, flying with Russian fighter pilots in the backseat of my plane,” said Kelly, D-AZ. Brett Baier” during an interview on Thursday. “The level of incompetence of the Russian pilots I flew with was shocking to me.”
Russia has denied that its plane crashed into the U.S. drone, despite video evidence showing the plane made at least two flybys, including one in which it appeared to dump fuel on the drone before power abruptly went out, and drone crashed into drone. Black Sea.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reportedly presented the pilots responsible for the crash of the drone on Friday with state awards, saying the pilots prevented the drone from “violating the boundaries of the temporary airspace regime established for the military operation special”, referring to the invasion of Ukraine.
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The ministry insisted the aircraft never touched the drone or used onboard weapons and “returned safely to their home airport”.
US Central Command said it has observed more “unprofessional” and “unsafe” behavior by Russian pilots in Syria since March 1.
The US European Command on Thursday released video of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea on March 14. A screenshot shows a jet discharging fuel. (US European Command)
However, Kelly, who flew 39 combat missions during Operation: Desert Storm, said during his interview with Bret Baier that this sort of behavior doesn’t surprise him based on his experience with Russian pilots.
“I think he was trying to team up and rendezvous with MQ-9, probably to take some pictures of it, and he crashed into it,” Kelly argued. “What we see on the battlefield, over and over again, is this level of incompetence across all ranks, including all generals.”
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Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, told Fox News Digital that the Russian pilots’ assault was “by design” and part of a culture of “tolerance for high risk and tolerance for casualties.” ” which covers the entire Russian army.
“With Putin in charge, who is highly tolerant of risk, the Russian military, including pilots, is even more aggressive,” he said.
Democratic Senator from Arizona Mark Kelly. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
He argued that Kelly’s assessment and suggestion of incompetence made sense “by US standards” but that the Russians “will never fight like the Americans” and instead focus on long-term strategy.
“No one in the world even comes close to the tactical brilliance and superior training of the US military,” he said. “The question is, do superior tactics win wars? Afghanistan has shown us otherwise.”
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“Putin has been fighting a war of attrition in Ukraine that is mainly based on land because Putin has realized that he cannot win a clear military victory in Ukraine,” he explained. “He’s playing a long game to devastate the country. The Russians have more than three times as many people to sacrifice as the Ukrainians in this war.”
Critics have long debated why Russia didn’t rely heavily on its air power when invading Ukraine, but Koffler noted that the strength of Ukraine’s air defenses, including the asymmetric use of anti-aircraft weapons such as the Stinger missiles, made it all too difficult.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, seen during the Navy Day Parade, July 31, 2022, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Putin arrived in St. Petersburg to review the main naval parade of more than 50 naval vessels on Russian Navy Day. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
“Whether they fight competently or incompetently, based on US standards, the war will continue because Putin’s definition of victory is to keep the conflict going,” Koffler concluded.
Kelly urged the United States to continue supporting Ukraine and oppose Russia, and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing women and children and committing war crimes.
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“We can’t let Russia beat Ukraine, to win this thing, because I can guarantee you they will look to the next country,” Kelly said, noting that Putin has repeatedly discussed his desire to rebuild the Soviet Union.
“For us to back off at this critical juncture…give [Putin] space to succeed in Ukraine, it would be a colossal strategic mistake for our country”.
Timothy HJ Nerozzi of Fox News Digital
