A Spanish F-18 fighter jet operating under NATO’s air-policing mission shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace illegally, Romania’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
The incident marks the fourth time Romania has brought down an unmanned aircraft this year amid growing concerns over drone incursions linked to Russia’s war in neighbouring Ukraine.
According to the ministry, Romanian radar systems detected the drone crossing into the country from Moldova, about 24 kilometres north of the southeastern city of Galati.
The Spanish pilot, who was carrying out a NATO air-policing mission, established contact with the drone and was authorised to engage it.
The ministry said, “made radar contact with the target and received permission to engage it,” adding that “The drone was shot down safely at 05:01 am.”
It said debris from the aircraft appeared to have landed in an uninhabited area between two villages, with no casualties reported.
Romania, which shares a 614-kilometre border with Ukraine, has experienced repeated airspace violations involving drones during the more than four years of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
In July, Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones that had entered the country’s airspace.
It was the first time Romania had downed such aircraft following dozens of previous incursions.
Earlier this year, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Galati during an overnight attack on Ukraine, injuring two people.
Romanian authorities have not identified the origin of the latest drone.
