According to AeroTime, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense announced that two Romanian Air Force F-16 fighters were dispatched on August 20, 2026, to intercept a small maritime drone drifting within the country's exclusive economic zone. One of the aircraft fired its onboard gun and successfully hit the target.
The drone was spotted near the Neptun Alpha gas production platform. Interim Defense Minister Radu Miruță confirmed that the drone was safely destroyed to protect hundreds of workers and secure critical infrastructure. Separately, earlier that day, another drone entered Romanian airspace and crashed near Grindu after Spanish Air and Space Force F-18s were scrambled.
