Romanian F-16s Shoot Down Two Drones in 48 Hours

The Government of Romania shot down two unidentified drones in its national airspace between Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, 2026. These incidents mark the first two times Romania has destroyed drones within its borders since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

On Friday, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted a drone over an unpopulated area in Buzău County, approximately 114 kilometers from Bucharest. The operation involved coordination with Italian Eurofighter Typhoons operating under NATO's Air Policing mission. While not officially confirmed, officials stated the aircraft resembled Iranian-designed Shahed or Geran-2 drones used by Russia. On Saturday morning, a second drone was detected by radar at 8:22 a.m. and destroyed by an F-16 at 8:34 a.m. near Sfantu Gheorghe in the Danube Delta, close to the Ukrainian border.

Defense officials, including Chief of the Defense Staff Gheorghiță Vlad, described the national security situation as critical. Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu emphasized that the incursions are consistent with patterns of Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. The military's authority to engage these targets follows legislation adopted by the Romanian parliament in 2025. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the Romanian armed forces, noting that strengthening deterrence on the eastern border remains a priority.