Romanian F-16s deployed as a part of the Baltic Air Policing shot down a rogue drone, presumably of Ukrainian origin, which entered Estonian airspace from Russia.
The Estonian Protection Forces have introduced that Romanian F-16 Preventing Falcons have shot down a drone which entered Estonian airspace. Estonia says that the drone, which arrived from Russian airspace, was “probably of Ukrainian origin” and that “circumstances of heavy digital warfare, together with GPS spoofing and jamming, by Russia” have been reported.
The Romanian F-16s are presently deployed to Lithuania as a part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. In line with the assertion, the plane have been already in flight for a routine coaching sortie once they have been retasked for the intercept.
Romanian Air Drive fighter jets F-16, based mostly in Lithuania, have been conducting a routine coaching flight beneath the Baltic Air Policing mission, and intercepted the drone South of Põltsamaa city. The jets fired a single missile to neutralize the risk, downing the unmanned aerial…
— Estonian Defence Forces | Eesti Kaitsevägi (@Kaitsevagi) Could 19, 2026
The drone was detected at 12.00PM native time, coming into “Estonian airspace from Russian airspace in the South-Japanese nook of Estonia, heading in the direction of North-East.” The fighters intercepted the drone “South of Põltsamaa city.”
In line with the assertion, air surveillance items have been monitoring the drone because it approached Estonian airspace. Following visible identification, “the jets fired a single missile to neutralize the risk, downing the unmanned aerial system at 12.14PM native time.”
🇷🇴 Romania swaps its MiG-21s for F-16Cs – boosting NATO Air Policing from Câmpia Turzii ✈️
This provides to the 53rd Fighter Squadron at Fetești and the 🇩🇪 German Air Drive Eurofighter detachment from Mihail Kogălniceanu
🔗 pic.twitter.com/OUQ8a53tTz
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) October 28, 2025
No particulars have been supplied in regards to the weapon used for the engagement. Romanian F-16s deployed for the Baltic Air Policing normally fly with two AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles and two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles.
The Estonian Protection Forces added that the intercept operation was led by the Latvian Management and Reporting Heart (CRC). The Estonian Inner Safety Service has now initiated a prison investigation, beneath the paragraph of an assault in opposition to air visitors security, says the assertion.
The authorities didn’t launch images of the incident and it’s thus unclear what sort of drone intruded into Estonian airspace. Because the Estonian Protection Forces talked about, it’s doable this was a Ukrainian drone which, throughout an assault in opposition to Russia, misplaced management because of jamming and went off track.
Baltic Air Policing
The Romanian Air Drive deployed numerous F-16s – probably 4 as in final yr’s deployment – to Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania. The plane substitute the Spanish Air Drive detachment which was beforehand within the Baltic area.
The F-16s are deployed alongside a detachment of Rafales from the French Air and House Drive, which function from the identical base. Each detachments are built-in inside NATO’s Command and Management buildings to keep up Fast Response Alert and safeguard Allied airspace.
Romania’s deployment marks the fourth time the Romanian Air Drive has contributed to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission from Lithuania, mentioned NATO’s Allied Air Command in an announcement on Mar. 30, 2026. Over the past deployment, the Carpathian Vipers Detachment of the Romanian Air Drive operated within the Baltic area from April to July 2025.
Beforehand, Romania first deployed for the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2007 with the MiG-21 LanceR, and returned to the Baltic Sea area in 2023 with the F-16. The F-16 changed the MiG-21 after the kind was retired by the Romanian Air Drive in 2023.
Precedents
The incident follows final yr interceptions over Poland, when F-16s and F-35s intercepted and shot down Russian drones which violated its airspace throughout a large-scale strike on Ukraine. The incident occurred within the night time between Sep. 9 and 10, 2025.
On that event, in accordance with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a “enormous quantity” of Russian drones crossed into Polish skies in the course of the assault. He added that the drones posing an instantaneous risk have been neutralized by fighter jets, with no casualties reported.
Polish and allied fighter jets have been scrambled whereas ground-based air protection and radar methods have been positioned on the best state of readiness. The operation concerned each Polish plane and NATO belongings, together with Dutch F-35s, on the time deployed to Poznan Krzesiny airbase for NATO’s Air Policing mission, and German Patriot items deployed in Poland.
Notably, a Polish Saab 340 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Management) plane was noticed in flight for 9 hours to assist the defenses. A NATO MMF A-330 MRTT was additionally orbiting within the space.
Following the assault, Ukraine’s Air Drive reported that Russia launched one in all its largest aerial assaults in months, deploying 415 drones, 42 cruise missiles, and a ballistic missile. Ukraine additionally added that at the least eight Shahed-type drones crossed into Poland’s path, some penetrating Polish airspace.
