French fighter aircraft deployed under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace after being affected by Russian electronic warfare, according to Latvian authorities.
The Latvian military announced on June 8 that a “foreign unmanned aerial vehicle” had been destroyed after entering the country’s airspace. Officials did not identify the drone’s country of origin, but stated that the incident resulted from Russian electronic warfare.
According to Latvian Minister of Defence Raivis Melnis, the drone was intercepted shortly after 9 a.m. local time near the village of Berzgale, approximately 30 kilometers from the Russian border. No injuries or property damage were reported.
French aircraft involved in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission launched from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania and destroyed the drone over an uninhabited area, the French military said in a statement. The French Armed Forces added that the incident demonstrated France’s “commitment to contributing to the security of Europe’s Eastern Flank.”
Growing concerns over drone spillover
The incident is the latest in a series of drone-related events affecting NATO member states bordering Russia and Ukraine, raising concerns over the spillover effects of the conflict.
Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže thanked France for the interception, writing on social media: “Thank you to our French allies for shooting down the drone that penetrated Latvian airspace!”
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs praised the response, describing it as an example of “swift decision-making and professional action.”
Authorities had previously warned residents in parts of eastern Latvia to shelter in place because of the threat posed by the aircraft.
Recent weeks have seen several incidents involving drones entering neighboring countries. Fragments of a Ukrainian drone were discovered in Moldova after crossing the border, while a maritime drone exploded at Romania’s Constanța port after reportedly being diverted by Russian electronic interference.
In late May, a Russian drone struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people and prompting Bucharest to call for NATO to accelerate the transfer of counter-UAS capabilities.
Calls for stronger counter-drone defenses
Following the Romanian incident, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen warned that Russia’s war against Ukraine was “increasingly becoming a direct threat to countries on our Eastern border” and reaffirmed the European Union’s support for affected nations.
Romanian officials have since called for faster deployment of counter-drone systems, while Baltic states have increasingly emphasized the need for improved air surveillance, early warning capabilities and integrated air defense along NATO’s Eastern Flank.
The French aircraft involved in the interception form part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, which has safeguarded the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since the three countries joined the alliance in 2004.
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Post Image Credit: Dassault Aviation
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