NATO Scrambles Eurofighters, F-16s After Drone Enters Latvian Airspace
NATO jets are reportedly scrambled after a drone entered Latvian airspace, with a Eurofighter shooting it down.
NATO fighter jets scrambled on Friday morning after a drone entered Latvian airspace. One Eurofighter from Italy shot down the unmanned aircraft. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the incident, stating that NATO is committed to protecting its skies. This was not the first time such a scramble had occurred; a day earlier, Romanian F-16s and Spanish F-18s were also scrambled after drones entered Romanian airspace near the Ukrainian border.
Latvia's National Armed Forces stated that the drone entered from Belarusian territory, likely due to Russian electromagnetic warfare activity. This type of electromagnetic warfare can disrupt military systems, making the use of weapons challenging. Latvia's military has been monitoring its airspace closely, and has strengthened defenses along its eastern border.
NATO Baltic Air Patrol fighters successfully shot down the drone over Balvi. Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked Italian allies for maintaining the integrity of NATO airspace.
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