An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon operating from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania shot down an unidentified drone over Latvia on Friday during a NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, with the interception centred on the Balvi area in the country’s northeast. NATO and Latvian authorities confirmed the aircraft acted under NATO command after the drone entered Latvian airspace, while Turkish F-16s were also scrambled from Estonia.
The incident appears to be the first time an Italian Typhoon has used weapons in a NATO interception. Latvian authorities said the drone may have been diverted by Russian electronic warfare, but its type and origin remained unconfirmed at the time of reporting.
The alert for affected districts ended around 4:50 a.m. local time. Officials said the drone came down over an unpopulated or wooded area, with no reported injuries or damage.