French Fighter Jet Shoots Down Drone That Violated Latvian Airspace

A fighter jet from the French Air and Space Force shot down a drone after it entered Latvian airspace.

Latvia’s National Armed Forces announced the incident after an air alert in the country’s eastern regions was lifted.

According to the military, the drone was intercepted in the area between Rēzekne and Kārsava, in Nautrēni Parish. The aircraft involved were part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, which is responsible for safeguarding the airspace of the Baltic states.

As part of this mission, France has currently deployed Rafale fighter jets of the 71st Baltic Air Policing contingent, based at the Šiauliai airbase in Lithuania.

The aviation unit consists of four two-seat Rafale B aircraft of the 4th Fighter Squadron.

It is worth noting that this is not the first such incident in the Baltic countries. In recent months, Latvia has repeatedly recorded drones entering its airspace.

Some of these drones have been linked to Russian electronic warfare systems, which disrupt drone navigation during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

On May 19, 2026, a fighter jet of the Baltic Air Policing mission shot down a drone in Estonia for the first time.

It was later revealed that the shootdown was carried out by a Romanian F-16 fighter of the Carpathian Vipers aviation unit.

The drone initially flew through Russian territory, but it was later disoriented or jammed by Russian electronic warfare systems, causing it to change course.

After that, the drone entered Estonian airspace and penetrated approximately 80 kilometers into the country.

Due to the airspace violation, a decision was made to scramble fighter jets. Around 11:00 local time, NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem ordered two Romanian F-16s of the Carpathian Vipers squadron to take off.