NATO jets down suspected Russian drone over Romania

On Sunday, NATO warplanes shot down a suspected Russian drone that entered Romanian airspace, marking the second such incident in three days. This is a worrying sign of spillover from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as it is the fourth drone downing over Romania since the war began in 2022.

NATO dispatched four jet fighters to neutralize the foreign drone that breached Latvian airspace early Friday. However, the drone's origin remained unidentified by Latvia's Ministry of Defense, who only mentioned that it entered the country's airspace due to Russian electromagnetic warfare.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Romanian authorities detected an incursion from neighboring Moldova. In response, NATO forces operating in Romania scrambled two Spanish F-18s from their rotation to the region. One of the jets successfully shot down the unidentified drone over an uninhabited area in the country's east. U.S. Army Col. Martin O'Donnell, NATO's military command spokesman, confirmed that the drone was likely Russian. The incident is currently under investigation, but NATO quickly attributed the drone to Moscow.

Drone incursions into NATO airspace have become increasingly frequent during the summer, with many believed to result from Russian or Ukrainian electronic-warfare systems disrupting drone navigation equipment. However, some incidents are suspected to be Russian attempts to test NATO air defenses. These frequent intrusions increase anxiety among alliance members concerning the potential for Russia to challenge the alliance's resolve with either direct or indirect aerial intrusions.

Intercepting a drone with two advanced jet fighters is an expensive endeavor. O'Donnell stated that NATO, Romania, and other allies are procuring ground-based interceptors to enhance their air-defense capabilities. Romania is home to a significant NATO presence at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base.