BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after a maritime drone carrying an explosive charge was discovered dangerously close to the country’s strategically important Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea, triggering a rapid military response.
According to Romania’s Ministry of National Defence, a commercial vessel reported the unmanned craft at approximately 6:28 a.m. local time on Aug. 20. The drone was found several hundred meters from the Neptun Alpha platform, roughly 80 nautical miles east of Constanța, within Romania’s exclusive economic zone.
Because of the drone’s proximity to critical energy infrastructure and offshore personnel, Romanian authorities immediately activated military and emergency procedures. Two Romanian Air Force F-16s were dispatched to investigate and intercept the vessel.
One of the fighter jets fired its onboard cannon, damaging the unmanned craft but failing to completely destroy it. A Romanian Coast Guard vessel carrying an explosive ordnance disposal team from the Naval Forces was then sent to the scene.
EOD specialists examined the damaged vessel and determined that it contained an explosive charge. The team subsequently neutralized the device, removing the immediate threat to the offshore platform and personnel.
Romania’s Defense Ministry said F-16 tracking data, combined with information gathered by personnel aboard the responding vessel, indicated that the incident involved a single maritime drone.
🔎 Drone’s Origin Remains Unclear
The discovery has raised questions about where the drone came from and how it reached Romanian waters.
Defense Minister Radu Miruță said Romanian authorities contacted Ukraine through a direct communication channel, with Kyiv confirming that the drone did not belong to Ukrainian forces. Romania has not publicly identified another source for the vessel.
President Nicușor Dan condemned what he characterized as irresponsible incidents involving Russia and said Romania would remain vigilant alongside its NATO allies. Moscow had not immediately issued a public response.
The incident followed the discovery of two Gerbera-type unmanned aerial vehicles near the Neptun Deep development earlier in August. Romanian military divers destroyed those drones after they were found drifting in the area.
⚠️ Growing Security Concerns
The repeated incidents have heightened concerns over the security of offshore energy infrastructure in the Black Sea, particularly as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to affect the region.
Neptun Deep, jointly developed by OMV Petrom and Romgaz, is expected to begin production in 2027 and could significantly increase Romania’s natural-gas output.
For Romania, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, the latest incident underscores the growing challenge of protecting critical infrastructure from unmanned systems and other wartime threats.
Authorities continue monitoring the Black Sea and coordinating with military and NATO partners as efforts intensify to safeguard offshore facilities, shipping routes and personnel.
