Ukrainian Forces Shoot Down $50M Russian Su-30SM Fighter Jet Over Black Sea with MANPADS

Sep 11, 2024, 10:42 PM

A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet was shot down over the Black Sea by Ukrainian forces on the night of September 10th. The aircraft, which had been launching Kh-31P missiles at mainland Ukraine, disappeared from radar near Sevastopol. Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) confirmed the downing, releasing a video showing the jet being hit by a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). The jet, valued at $50 million, was destroyed during an operation involving Ukrainian special forces and a Bayraktar TB2 UAV. Russian sources, including the Fighterbomber channel, have also confirmed the loss of the aircraft, which originated from the Saky air base. The incident resulted in the death of the two crew members on board. A search and rescue operation by Russia found oil slicks and debris but could not recover any significant parts of the aircraft.