Romania shoots down drone over its own airspace for the first time
A Romanian Air Force F-16 shot down a drone that entered the country's airspace on Friday morning, the first time Romania has intercepted and destroyed a drone over its own territory. Radar detected the target near the Black Sea port of Sulina before NATO and Romanian jets scramb
A Romanian Air Force F-16 shot down a drone that entered the country's airspace on Friday morning, July 24, marking the first time Romania has intercepted and destroyed a drone over its own territory. Radar systems detected the aerial target at 9:39 a.m., about 20 kilometers east of the Black Sea port of Sulina, after it crossed into Romanian airspace on a path toward Braila, Fetesti and Buzau. Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jets deployed under NATO's Air Policing mission were scrambled first, followed by two Romanian F-16s. An F-16 from the 86th Air Base engaged the drone with a missile at 11:02 a.m., shooting it down over an uninhabited area near the village of Padina in Buzau county. No casualties were reported. The drone's origin has not been officially confirmed. President Nicusor Dan and interim Defense Minister Radu Miruta confirmed the incident. Source: Romania Insider, Romanian Ministry of National Defense, Euronews.