Romania Shoots Down Drone Over Buzau County – First NATO Member Interception

On July 24, 2026, Romanian radar detected an unmanned aerial vehicle about 20 km east of Sulina at roughly 09:30 local time. Two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base and two Romanian F-16s from Fetesti were scrambled. At 11:02 a Romanian F-16 fired an air-to-air missile, destroying the UAV over an uninhabited area near Padina in Buzau County. Fragments fell on agricultural land, causing no injuries or damage.

Drone shot down by Romanian Army after flying hundreds of kilometers through country's airspace. Four fighter jets were lifted off the ground – Cotidianul Romania details first case of fighter jet shooting down drone that violated its airspace NATO shoots down drone deep inside alliance airspace The first drone was shot down over Romania EuronewsRomanian F-16 shoots down drone in country's airspace Romania Shoots Down Foreign Drone in Its Own Airspace New York PostThe Jerusalem PostUnited24 Media

Romania, a NATO member sharing a 650-km border with Ukraine, has logged multiple UAV incursions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The defence ministry recorded at least 15 breaches this year. A prior incident on May 29, 2026, involved a Russian-origin Geran-2 loitering munition striking a high-rise in Galati, injuring two people. NATO has warned that such incursions threaten the alliance’s eastern flank.

The Independent

• 09:30 – 09:39: Radar picks up the UAV east of Sulina.

Drone shot down by Romanian Army after flying hundreds of kilometers through country's airspace. Four fighter jets were lifted off the ground – Cotidianul

• 09:48: Italian Eurofighters take off.

TRT World

• 10:56: Romanian F-16s launch from Fetesti.

Romania details first case of fighter jet shooting down drone that violated its airspace

• 11:00: President Nicusor Dan announces the drone is in Romanian airspace.

Romanian F-16 shoots down drone in country's airspace

• 11:02: Romanian F-16 fires, downing the UAV near Padina.

Romania details first case of fighter jet shooting down drone that violated its airspace

• Detection range: ~20 km east of Sulina.

Drone shot down by Romanian Army after flying hundreds of kilometers through country's airspace. Four fighter jets were lifted off the ground – Cotidianul

• Flight path: Sulina -> Braila -> Fetesti -> Buzau.

Drone shot down by Romanian Army after flying hundreds of kilometers through country's airspace. Four fighter jets were lifted off the ground – Cotidianul

• Distance from Bucharest to impact site: ~114 km (70 mi).

NATO shoots down drone deep inside alliance airspace

• Prior airspace breaches reported this year: >= 15.

Romania shoots down drone that entered its airspace

• Casualties: none; debris fell in a wheat/corn field.

Romania shoots down drone that entered its airspace

• President Nicusor Dan said the area was uninhabited, allowing the pilot to fire without risk, and announced investigative teams were examining the site.

In Romania, an F-16 fighter shot down a drone that entered the country's airspace

• Romania’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the detection time, the scramble of both Romanian and Italian aircraft, and the successful engagement.

Romania details first case of fighter jet shooting down drone that violated its airspace

• Acting Defence Minister Radu Miruta praised the crews for “professionalism, composure and quick reaction.”

Romania details first case of fighter jet shooting down drone that violated its airspace

• NATO Allied Air Command noted that NATO-controlled assets were cleared to engage once the UAV entered Romanian airspace.

NATO shoots down drone deep inside alliance airspace

• General Gheorghita Vlad, chief of staff of the Romanian army, reported visual identification of the UAV as resembling a Shahed-type drone, an Iranian-designed model used by Russia.

United24 Media

The drone’s origin remains unconfirmed. Romanian officials have not assigned a nationality, while General Vlad’s assessment points to a Shahed-type UAV commonly supplied to Russia. Ukrainian officials cited the drone’s mesh-network capability, suggesting possible Russian intent, but provided no definitive evidence. Investigations are ongoing.

The Independent

• “We had a drone in our airspace. It was shot down a few minutes ago, around 11:00 am (0800 GMT) by a Romanian pilot flying an F-16,” — President Nicusor Dan

The Defense Post

• “Such a drone with a mesh network flew in today. A crossing of the state border was recorded somewhere near Vylkove, and it flew into Romania,” — Yurii Ihnat, head of the Ukrainian Air Force communications directorate

United24 Media

• “The area was uninhabited, so the pilot was able to fire without any risk involved,” — President Dan

Romanian F-16 shoots down drone in country's airspace