NATO jets shoot down drone in Latvian airspace

NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace on Friday, August 14, the alliance said, in the latest reported incursion along NATO’s eastern flank bordering Russia.

A NATO spokesperson said two Italian Eurofighter jets were scrambled in response to the drone and that one of them shot it down. Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets were also scrambled, and all the aircraft were operating under NATO command, the spokesperson said.

NATO has opened an investigation. It was not immediately clear where the drone had come from.

Latvia’s defence ministry wrote on X that NATO fighter jets had shot down a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Latvia “as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare.” The ministry confirmed to AFP that this was the second time such a drone had been shot down in Latvian airspace, after a first incursion in June.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze thanked Italy for “maintaining” the integrity of NATO airspace. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the incident showed the effect of NATO decisions to increase the Baltic Air Policing mission to air defence, and said the Italian jets were deployed in Siauliai, northern Lithuania.

Latvia is an EU and NATO member of about 1.9 million people and borders Russia to the east. Latvia and other countries on NATO’s eastern flank, including Romania and Poland, have reported repeated incursions into their airspace.

At a meeting on Wednesday, NATO allies said Russia bears full responsibility for airspace violations, which they called dangerous and unacceptable.

Finland imposed temporary aviation and maritime restrictions in the eastern Gulf of Finland on Friday. Its defence forces described the move as a precaution to protect bystanders and maintain authorities’ ability to counter potential drones.

AFP reported that German authorities last week found an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig airport, while operations at Hanover airport were disrupted after a drone entered restricted airspace.