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# Aerial Target Enters Romanian Airspace as Spanish F-18s Scramble Near Ukraine Border
- URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/aerial-target-enters-romanian-airspace-as-spanish-f-18s-scramble-near-ukraine-border/
- Published: 2026-09-28T05:00:20.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-28T05:00:20.000Z
- Description: Romanian authorities tracked an unidentified aerial target inside national airspace near the Ukrainian border overnight, prompting Spanish F-18 fighters and a Romanian military helicopter to scramble.
- Author: AdriaDefense Desk
- Tags: Romania, CEE, Russia, Ukraine, Drones, Air Defense

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said an unidentified aerial target entered Romanian airspace near Chilia Veche in Tulcea County during the night of September 26 to 27, triggering an air alert along the country’s border with Ukraine.

The target was initially detected by Romania’s military radar surveillance system near Chilia Veche, close to the river border formed by the Chilia branch of the Danube.

According to the ministry, the National Military Command Center notified Romania’s General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and an RO-Alert warning was issued to residents in northern Tulcea County at 23:32.

Two Spanish Air and Space Force F-18 fighters assigned to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission were scrambled to monitor the situation. A Romanian Air Force IAR-330 SOCAT helicopter was also launched.

Radar data indicated that the aerial target crossed into Romanian national airspace near Chilia Veche before flying for several minutes on a course almost parallel to the Chilia branch.

Romanian radar subsequently lost contact with the target in the area of Pardina.

The air alert was lifted at 00:48.

The Ministry of National Defence has not yet publicly identified the target’s type or origin in its September 27 statement. While Romanian media have widely described the object as a drone, the ministry referred to it only as an “aerial target.”

## Latest in a series of incidents

The incident comes only days after another aerial target crossed Romania’s northern border on September 24.

In that case, Romanian F-16 fighters were scrambled after the target entered national airspace through northern Botoșani County. The object remained inside Romanian airspace for approximately four minutes before crashing near Solca in Suceava County.

Authorities subsequently secured the site and identified the object as a small drone. No casualties or material damage were reported.

Spanish F-18s were also scrambled during the night of September 23 to 24 after another group of aerial targets was detected on Ukrainian territory north of Chilia Veche.

A day later, on September 25, Romanian radar detected another aerial target approximately 20 kilometers east of Galați. Romanian F-16s were launched and residents received an RO-Alert, although authorities reported no violation of Romanian airspace during that incident.

Romania has repeatedly activated fighters and public warning systems as drone activity linked to strikes in neighboring Ukraine has approached NATO airspace along the Danube and Black Sea region.

Spain currently contributes F-18 fighters to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania, augmenting the Romanian Air Force as part of the Alliance’s reinforced air-defense posture on its eastern flank.

Sunday’s incident adds to the increasing operational pressure on Romania’s air-surveillance and air-policing network along one of NATO’s closest borders to the war in Ukraine.