Romania shoots down drone violating its airspace for the first time (opex360.com)

• Romania shot down a drone violating its airspace for the first time.
• The drone was a Geran-2 (Russian Shahed variant).
• Two Italian Eurofighters and two Romanian F-16s participated in the interception.
• The engagement occurred over an uninhabited area in Buzău county.
• The Romanian MoD confirmed the shootdown with an air-to-air missile.

"On July 24, 2026, Romanian Air Force F-16s shot down a Geran-2 drone that had violated its airspace, marking the first such interception. The drone was detected near Sulina, about 20 km from the Black Sea coast. Two Italian Eurofighters from NATO's Air Policing mission initially scrambled, later relieved by Romanian F-16s, which engaged the target over an uninhabited area in Buzău county. Romanian Chief of Defense General Gheorghiță Vlad stated the drone may have carried explosives and that this incident represents a new phenomenon."