**BUCHAREST, Romania** — Romanian F-16 fighter jets and naval explosive-ordnance teams destroyed a maritime drone carrying explosives after it drifted within several hundred meters of the Neptun Alpha production platform in the Black Sea, officials said.
The incident began shortly after 6:28 a.m. on Aug. 20, when a commercial vessel reported the unmanned craft near the Neptun Deep gas project, about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) east of Constanța and inside Romania’s exclusive economic zone. The Romanian Coast Guard immediately alerted the Ministry of National Defence. An emergency command cell was formed to assess the threat to offshore workers and critical energy infrastructure.
Interim Defence Minister Radu Miruță said authorities determined the situation required immediate action. After consultations with President Nicușor Dan, Romanian forces were authorized to neutralize the vessel.
Two Romanian Air Force F-16s were scrambled. One aircraft engaged the drone with its onboard cannon, striking and damaging the craft. The vessel remained afloat and continued to drift, prompting a second phase of the operation.
A Coast Guard ship carrying an explosive-ordnance disposal team from the Romanian Naval Forces reached the site. Specialists confirmed the drone contained an explosive charge and carried out a controlled detonation, eliminating the remaining threat. The Defence Ministry later released video of the fighter engagement and the disposal operation.
Romanian officials checked the drone’s origin through a recently established direct communication channel with Ukraine and received confirmation that it was not Ukrainian. President Dan condemned the episode and attributed responsibility to Russia, saying it illustrated growing security risks facing Romania and other NATO members along the Black Sea.
The episode followed earlier incidents near the same project. In the first half of August, Romanian forces destroyed two Russian-made Gerbera-type aerial drones found drifting in the area.
Neptun Deep, developed by OMV Petrom and Romgaz, is regarded as strategically important for Romania’s energy security and the wider European market. Full-scale production is expected to begin in 2027 and significantly increase the country’s natural-gas output.
Authorities said they remain on heightened alert and will continue coordinating with NATO partners to protect territorial waters, offshore facilities and personnel. The incident underscored the expanding challenge posed by unmanned systems operating near NATO territory and critical infrastructure amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
