An Italian NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Latvian airspace
One of NATO’s Italian fighter jets neutralized an unidentified drone that entered Latvian airspace on Friday morning over the Rugai parish in the Balvi region. This was reported by LSM English, citing Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis.
According to the minister, the decision to shoot down the drone was made in light of the danger that drones can pose to the country’s residents. Melnis noted that it is impossible to guarantee a safe landing of the drone, even in marshy or forested areas.
NATO confirmed that following the intrusion of an unidentified drone into Latvian airspace, two Italian Eurofighter jets took off from the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania and two Turkish F-16s took off from the Emari Air Base in Estonia. After the target was reliably identified, one of the Italian jets neutralized it.
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Members of the Latvian National Guard are searching for debris to more accurately identify the drone. It was shot down over a marshy and forested area; the nearest town, Balvi, is located about 20 kilometers away. Local residents heard the sounds of fighter jets, and some reported seeing the moment the drone exploded.
Melnis also commented on social media posts alleging that several drones were in the area of the incident. According to him, no other drones were detected, and the sounds heard by locals could have come from interceptor fighter jets. The operation was coordinated by NATO’s Joint Air Operations Center in Germany and the Alliance’s Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
