A Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone that entered the country’s airspace on Friday morning, July 24, marking the first time Romania has intercepted and destroyed a drone over its own territory. President Nicu\u0219or Dan and interim defense minister Radu Miru\u021b\u01ce confirmed the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn around 11:00 this morning, a Romanian pilot flying an F-16 shot down a drone that had entered our country’s airspace. The area was uninhabited, so the pilot was able to fire without any risk. Teams from the relevant institutions are now investigating the area to establish all the details of the incident,” president Dan announced.<\/p>\n\n
Providing additional details, minister Radu Miru\u021b\u0103 said the drone, whose\u00a0origin has not yet been identified, was detected by the Ministry of National Defense’s surveillance systems, triggering the country’s air defense procedures.<\/p>\n
“Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft deployed under NATO’s Air Policing mission were scrambled immediately. Shortly afterwards, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets, authorized to engage the target, also took off,” the minister said.<\/p>\n
“After tracking the target, a Romanian Air Force F-16 engaged and shot down the drone over an uninhabited area in Buz\u0103u county,” he added, congratulating the Romanian pilots for their “professionalism, composure and rapid response.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n