Romanian authorities say an F-16 fighter jet intercepted and disabled a maritime drone carrying explosives near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea on Thursday, August 20, prompting a rapid military response to protect critical energy infrastructure and hundreds of workers.
The unmanned surface vessel was reported at about 6:28 a.m. local time by a commercial ship after it was spotted drifting several hundred meters from the Neptun Alpha production platform. The facility lies roughly 80 nautical miles east of Constanța inside Romania’s exclusive economic zone.
The Romanian Coast Guard immediately alerted the Ministry of National Defence, which established an emergency command cell to assess the threat. Officials determined that the vessel posed a significant danger to personnel and the strategically important offshore installation.
Following coordination with President Nicușor Dan, Romanian authorities authorized military action to neutralize the drone. Two Romanian Air Force F-16s were scrambled, with one aircraft firing its onboard cannon at the unmanned vessel.
The strike damaged the drone but did not completely destroy it, allowing the vessel to continue drifting. A Romanian Coast Guard ship subsequently reached the area with an explosive ordnance disposal team from the Romanian Naval Forces.
Specialists examined the vessel and determined that it was carrying an explosive charge. The EOD team then conducted a controlled detonation, completing the operation and eliminating the remaining threat.
Interim Defence Minister Radu Miruță said Romania also used a newly established direct communication channel with Ukraine to determine the drone’s origin. According to Miruță, Ukrainian authorities officially confirmed that the vessel was not Ukrainian.
President Dan condemned the incident and attributed responsibility to Russia, describing the episode as another serious challenge linked to the broader conflict in the Black Sea region. He praised the Romanian military, F-16 pilots and Coast Guard personnel for responding quickly.
The incident is the latest security concern near Neptun Deep. Earlier this month, Romanian forces reportedly destroyed two Russian-made Gerbera-type aerial drones found near the offshore project.
Neptun Deep is one of Romania’s most strategically important energy developments. Operated jointly by OMV Petrom and Romgaz, the project is expected to significantly increase Romania’s natural gas production when full-scale output begins in 2027.
The latest incident highlights the growing risks posed by the war in Ukraine to NATO’s eastern flank and critical infrastructure in the Black Sea. Romanian officials say they will maintain heightened vigilance and continue coordinating closely with NATO allies as potential threats to the region evolve.
