Archive · 14 Aug 2026
NATO Fighter Jets Shoot Down Foreign Drone Over Latvia
Some countries in Europe work together in a group called NATO to help keep each other safe.
One day, a drone — a flying machine with no pilot inside — flew into the sky above a small country called Latvia.
Fast NATO fighter planes flew up and shot the drone down.
One of the planes was an Italian Eurofighter, and Turkish planes were scrambled to help too.
Latvia's army said the drone came in because of Russian electronic tricks, but they did not say for sure whose drone it was.
The drone was brought down over the Balvi region in eastern Latvia.
Latvia sent extra soldiers and air defence equipment to its eastern border to watch the sky.
A few days earlier, NATO leaders met and said Russia is responsible for dangerous drone flights and that NATO is ready to defend its members.
This has happened before — in June, NATO planes also shot down a drone over Latvia.
People are worried because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and they fear such incidents could happen again.
NATO Baltic Air Policing fighter jets shot down a 'foreign drone' that entered Latvian airspace on Friday.
Latvia's armed forces said the drone entered due to 'Russian electromagnetic warfare' and was intercepted over the Balvi region in eastern Latvia, without confirming its origin.
Two Italian Eurofighter jets and two Turkish F-16 fighter jets were scrambled under NATO command; an investigation is ongoing.
Additional air defence units were deployed to Latvia's eastern border, and aerial threats in Preiļi, Rezekne, Balvi, Augšdaugava, and Alūksne were declared over.
The shootdown came two days after NATO officials said Russia bears full responsibility for airspace violations, and Latvia warned such incidents could recur while Russia's aggression in Ukraine continues.
- Who
- NATO Baltic Air Policing fighter jets — including Italian Eurofighters and Turkish F-16s operating under NATO command — and Latvia's armed forces; NATO blames Russia for the airspace violations.
- What
- A 'foreign drone' was shot down after entering Latvian airspace.
- When
- Friday, two days after NATO officials met to discuss drone incursions and three months after a similar shootdown over Latvia in June.
- Where
- Over the Balvi region in eastern Latvia; aerial threats were also identified in Preiļi, Rezekne, Augšdaugava, and Alūksne.
- Why
- Latvia's military said the drone entered as a result of 'Russian electromagnetic warfare,' and NATO says Russia bears full responsibility for dangerous and unacceptable airspace violations amid its war in Ukraine.
- Incident
- NATO Baltic Air Policing fighter jets shot down a 'foreign drone' over Latvia on Friday
- Interception location
- Balvi region, eastern Latvia
- Aircraft scrambled
- Two Italian Eurofighter jets (one shot down the drone) and two Turkish F-16 fighter jets, all under NATO command
- Other areas with aerial threats
- Preiļi, Rezekne, Balvi, Augšdaugava, Alūksne (threats have ended)
- Alleged cause
- 'Russian electromagnetic warfare,' according to Latvia's armed forces
- Drone origin
- Not confirmed; an investigation is ongoing
- NATO statement
- Russia bears full responsibility; NATO 'stands ready to deter and defend against any aggression'
- Related incidents
- French jets shot down a drone over Latvia on Monday; Romanian pilots shot down three drones last month, one a Shahed type; Finland imposed temporary restrictions in the eastern Gulf of Finland
