NATO has confirmed that allied fighter jets shot down an unidentified drone after it entered Romanian airspace on Friday, highlighting the Alliance’s ongoing efforts to protect its eastern flank against potential aerial threats.
According to a NATO statement, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets from Fetești Air Base and two Italian Eurofighter aircraft stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base were scrambled under NATO command and control after an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle was detected flying near Romanian airspace.
After identifying the drone and confirming that it had crossed into Romanian territory, the NATO aircraft received authorization to intercept and destroy the unmanned aircraft within Romanian airspace.
NATO said the multinational operation demonstrated the Alliance’s readiness to respond rapidly to potential airspace violations and to safeguard the territory and populations of member states.
The incident comes as Romania and other NATO allies continue to strengthen their air defense capabilities, including investments in counter-drone systems. Romania has recently acquired the MEROPS system, designed to detect and intercept small unmanned aerial vehicles.
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing, while NATO said it is working closely with the Romanian authorities to determine the drone’s origin and the circumstances surrounding the airspace violation.
