Romanian F-16 Engages Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Near Padina

ROMANIA — A Romanian Air Force F-16 from the 86th Air Base at Fetești engaged and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle over an uninhabited area near Padina in Buzău County on July 24 after the drone entered national airspace.

The Romanian Ministry of Defense stated that its radar system detected the aerial target at 9:39 a.m. approximately 12 miles (20 km) east of Sulina. The target followed a trajectory of Sulina-Brăila-Fetești-Buzău.

Two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons from the 57th Air Base at Mihail Kogălniceanu and two Romanian F-16s took off at 9:48 a.m. and 10:56 a.m. respectively under NATO Air Policing Service to monitor the situation.

The F-16 engaged the target with an air-to-air missile at 11:02 a.m. and brought it down. The National Military Command Center notified emergency authorities, and RO-Alert messages were sent to populations in Tulcea and Brăila counties.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated that the area was uninhabited, allowing the engagement without risk, and that institutional teams are examining the site for further details.

The Ministry of National Defense said it would provide updated information as available. No official identification of the drone’s origin has been released.

The Ministry also reported sequential radar activity in the preceding 24 hours. On the night of July 23-24, Russian forces conducted a series of drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine.

Romanian radar detected a group of aerial targets approximately 21 miles (33 km) north of the river border around 12:10 a.m.

An IAR-330 Puma Socat helicopter scrambled at 12:48 a.m., a RO-Alert message went out for Tulcea County at 12:56 a.m., and the air alert ended at 1:33 a.m. with no unauthorized penetrations or ground impacts recorded.

Earlier on July 23, intermittent signals were detected east of Sulina at 12:02 p.m., prompting F-16 and Puma scrambles. Pilots stated they did not confirm the presence of any aerial target, either visually or on their onboard radars, and the alert ended at 1:29 p.m.

Latest Developments

• Romanian Ministry of National Defense radar detected the aerial target at 9:39 a.m. approximately 12 miles (20 km) east of Sulina on a Sulina-Brăila-Fetești-Buzău trajectory.

• Italian Eurofighter Typhoons and Romanian F-16s scrambled at 9:48 a.m. and 10:56 a.m. under NATO air policing arrangements.

• Romanian F-16 engaged the target with a missile at 11:02 a.m. near Padina, Buzău County, over uninhabited terrain.

• RO-Alert messages issued for Tulcea and Brăila counties. Institutional teams examining the site.

• President Nicușor Dan stated the engagement occurred in an uninhabited area with no risk to the population.

• Prior-night Russian drone attacks on Ukraine produced Romanian radar detections 21 miles (33 km) north of the river border around 12:10 a.m., a Puma scramble, and a Tulcea RO-Alert that ended with no penetrations.

Official Statements

• Romanian Ministry of National Defense, July 24 (English press release No. 147): “An F-16 fighter aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, assigned to the 86th Air Base, Fetești, while conducting an air policing mission to monitor and track an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that had violated national airspace, engaged the target with an air-to-air missile on Friday, July 24 and neutralized it over an unpopulated area in the vicinity of Padina, Buzău County. At 09:39, on Friday, July 24, the radar surveillance system of the Ministry of National Defence detected an aerial target approximately 20 km east of Sulina. The track subsequently penetrated the national airspace, following a trajectory across Sulina–Brăila–Fetești–Buzău. Two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, deployed to the 57th ‘Mihail Kogălniceanu’ Air Base conducting NATO Air Policing Service, and two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft assigned to the 86th Air Base, Fetești, were scrambled at 09:48, respectively 10:56 to monitor the situation. The National Military Command Center alerted the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) and triggered population warning protocols in Tulcea and Brăila Counties, with RO-Alert notifications issued to the public accordingly. At 11.02, the Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft engaged the target and shot it down. We will provide updated information as soon as it becomes available.”

• Romanian Ministry of National Defense, July 23: “On Thursday, July 23, at 12:02 PM, the radar surveillance system of the Ministry of National Defence detected intermittent signals east of Sulina, Tulcea County. Two Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets from the 86th Air Base in Fetești - conducting NATO-led Air Policing Service - and a Romanian Air Force PUMA SOCAT Helicopter scrambled at 12:24 PM, respectively, 12:36 PM. The National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations regarding the implementation of alert measures for the population in Tulcea County, and a RO-Alert message was issued at 12:17 PM. After overflying the area where the signals were detected, the pilots did not confirm the presence of any aerial target, either visually or on their onboard radars. The air alert ceased at 13.29. The Ministry of National Defence continuously monitors the air situation, informs the Allied structures in real time regarding such events and maintains constant contact with them.”

• Romanian Ministry of National Defense, night of July 23-24: “During the night of 23 to 24 July, the Russian Federation carried out a series of drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine. The MApN radar surveillance system detected, around 00:10, a group of aerial targets evolving at a distance of approximately 33 km north of the river border with Romania. To monitor the situation, an IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT helicopter of the Romanian Air Force took off at 00:48. The National Military Command Center informed the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations regarding the implementation of population alert measures in Tulcea County, with a RO-Alert message transmitted at 00:56. No unauthorized penetrations of national airspace or cases of ground impact by any aerial vehicle were reported. The air alert ceased at 01:33. MApN continuously monitors the situation and informs Allied structures in real time.”

• Romanian Ministry of National Defense, July 24 (official social-media post): “An F-16 fighter aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, assigned to the 86th Air Base, Fetești, while conducting an air policing mission to monitor and track an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that had violated national airspace, engaged the target with an air-to-air missile on Friday, July 24 and neutralized it over an unpopulated area in the vicinity of Padina, Buzău County.”