- Category
- War in Ukraine
Romanian F-16 Fighter Jets Shoot Down Two Russian Jet-Powered Drones Over NATO Airspace
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two Russian jet-powered attack drones over the Black Sea on October 17 after the aircraft entered Romania’s airspace, marking another incident involving Russian drones crossing into NATO territory.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
According to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense on October 17, the intercepted aircraft were identified as jet-powered Geran attack drones. Both were destroyed over Romanian territorial waters near the coastal town of Sulina.
NEW: The Romanian Air Force has released footage from last night’s mission to neutralize two Russian Geran drones that entered Romanian airspace. https://t.co/Yh3VT9dtE6 pic.twitter.com/G3fjKT3rnu
— GeoInsider (@InsiderGeo) October 18, 2026
Romanian radar systems initially detected a group of aerial targets approximately 120 kilometers east of Ukraine’s Snake Island, moving southwest toward Romania.
In response, two F-16 fighter jets operating under Romania’s air policing mission took off from the 86th Air Base at Borcea at 5:43 p.m. local time. The first drone entered Romanian airspace at 5:59 p.m. and was intercepted at 6:01 p.m. southeast of Sulina, approximately two minutes after crossing the country’s airspace boundary.
A second drone entered Romanian airspace at approximately 6:00 p.m. and was destroyed at 6:05 p.m. east of Sulina, following five minutes inside Romanian airspace. Both interceptions occurred within four minutes of each other.
The Romanian Defense Ministry also reported repeated drone activity near its border during the preceding week. Radar surveillance systems recorded eight separate incidents involving aerial targets operating in Ukrainian airspace near Romania. In four cases, drones briefly crossed into Romanian airspace.
The ministry said it continues to adjust its defensive measures in response to evolving aerial threats and to protect the country’s sovereignty. The latest interceptions followed several drone attacks against commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea, including incidents within Romanian territorial waters.
On October 14, a drone struck the Comoros-flagged tanker YARA J in Romanian waters. The following day, another drone attack caused a fire aboard the San Marino-flagged vessel Wine Trader. Additional attacks on October 6 and 13 targeted four commercial vessels operating within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.
Discuss this article:
