Romanian F-16 destroys Russian naval drone at a dangerous distance from gas platform

The Romanian Defense Ministry released a video of the operation, which shows a fighter jet hitting a drone with its onboard cannon.

A Romanian F-16 fighter jet destroyed a naval drone with explosives near the Neptun Deep gas project platform in the Black Sea. The corresponding video was released by the acting Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruce.

The drone was detected by the coast guard a few hundred meters from the platform. Two F-16s were sent to the area, one of which destroyed the target. According to the Romanian Defense Ministry, the drone posed a danger to critical infrastructure and hundreds of people working on the platform. After the strike, the military confirmed the complete destruction of the drone.

Romanian authorities separately stated that the drone was not Ukrainian. Romanian President Nikusor Dan congratulated the military on the operation and stated the need to protect the country and critical infrastructure in the Black Sea.

Just a few days ago, the Romanian military neutralized two Gerbera drones that were drifting in the country’s economic zone near the Neptun Deep area. And in June, a naval drone exploded right in the port of Constanta. At that time, Ukraine said that it was its drone that lost control due to Russian electronic warfare.

The new incident also attracted attention at the EU level. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack near Neptun Deep part of a broader hybrid campaign directed against Europe. Romania also informed NATO about the drone incidents on August 20.

Reference. Neptun Deep is of strategic importance for Romania. This is the country’s largest offshore gas project, which should significantly increase its gas production and strengthen the EU’s energy security.

Earlier it became known that after the drone explosion in the port of Constanta, Romania accelerated military ties with Ukraine.