NATO fighter jets, including two Spanish F-18s, intercepted and shot down an unauthorized drone over Romania on Aug. 16 after it crossed the border near Moldova. The drone was destroyed at 5:01 a.m. between Băleni and Cudalbi in Galați County in an unpopulated area, Defence Minister Radu Miruța said. Officials have not confirmed the drone's origin; the incident follows several recent airspace incursions, including a July 26 downing of a Russian-made drone near the Danube Delta.
NATO Fighters Shoot Down Unauthorized Drone Over Romania Near Moldova Border
A Spanish F-18 jet flies over the military base of Torrejon de Ardoz in Madrid, Spain, on August 24, 2021. On Sunday, two Spanish jets as part of NATO shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace without authorization. File Photo by Mariscal/EPA
NATO fighter jets shot down an unauthorized drone after it entered Romanian airspace near the Moldova border, Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruța said.
Miruța reported that two Spanish F-18 fighters were scrambled when the unmanned aircraft crossed into Romania at 4:44 a.m. on Aug. 16. The jets intercepted and destroyed the drone at 5:01 a.m. between the localities of Băleni and Cudalbi in Galați County. The engagement took place in an unpopulated area, according to the minister's post on X.
'Romania is defending its airspace, and our allies are standing with us. Vigilance, rapid response, and allied solidarity — these are the concrete guarantees of our security,' Miruța wrote.
Romanian authorities have not publicly confirmed the drone's country of origin. The incident is one of several recent incursions into Romanian airspace and underscores continued regional tensions and close NATO coordination.
Related Incidents
On July 26, Miruța said a Romanian F-16 shot down a Russian-made drone that had entered Romanian airspace near the Danube Delta in the Black Sea. Two days earlier, Romanian forces downed another drone identified as a model reportedly used by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
Separately, Spanish F-18s were scrambled on Thursday after an object was detected near Romania's border with Ukraine; that object spent about 12 minutes in Romanian airspace before continuing into Ukrainian territory.
Romania and NATO continue to monitor the region closely and say they remain ready to respond to unauthorized air incursions to protect national and allied security.
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