Romania carried out the first kinetic drone shootdown in its airspace on July 24, 2026, following NATO authorization. Two Romanian F-16s and two Italian Eurofighters intercepted and destroyed the drone near the village of Padina, after approximately 80 minutes of airspace violation, having penetrated 200 kilometers inland from the Black Sea coast. No casualties or property damage were reported. The incident is part of a broader pattern of over 40 similar drone incursions since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. The decision marks a shift in NATO’s posture, moving from passive monitoring to active deterrence along its eastern flank.
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