French Rafale downs stray drone over Latvia (opex360.com)

• French Rafale intercepts and destroys stray drone over Latvia.
• Drone believed to be Ukrainian, diverted by Russian electronic warfare.
• First such engagement for French jets in Baltic Air Policing.

"On June 8, 2026, a French Rafale fighter jet shot down a presumed Ukrainian attack drone that entered Latvian airspace due to Russian electronic warfare, as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. This marked the first time a French aircraft engaged a target under this mission. The drone was destroyed over an uninhabited area. The incident follows a similar shootdown by Romanian F-16s over Estonia on May 19. French forces have been active intercepting Russian military aircraft in the region."