A French Rafale fighter jet deployed on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission shot down an unidentified drone that entered Latvian airspace on Sunday morning, authorities said.
The Latvian military said the drone crossed into sovereign airspace “as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare,” though authorities have not confirmed whether the aircraft originated from Russia or Ukraine.
The drone was shot near the village of Berzgale, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border. Authorities said there were no reports of injuries or damage.
A video circulating online appears to show one of the Rafales firing an air-to-air missile at the drone.
🇱🇻 Rogovkā, Rēzeknes novadā notriekts lidrobots. NBS apstiprina.#Rogovka #Rēzekne #Latvija pic.twitter.com/kBdojUHanB
— BreakingLV (@breakinglv) June 8, 2026
A French army spokesperson confirmed that French warplanes shot down an unidentified drone, while a NATO official said: “It shows once again NATO’s determination and ability to deter and defend.”
In a post on X, Latvian army thanked France for its cooperation in downing the drone.
Pateicamies Francijai par efektīvu sadarbību drona notriekšanā 🇱🇻🤝🏻🇫🇷#WeAreNATO #StrongerTogether https://t.co/fA8Kni4FhL
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) June 8, 2026
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs praised the Ministry of Defense and NATO allied forces for their “swift decision-making and professional action.”
Pateicoties ātrai lēmuma pieņemšanai un profesionālai rīcībai, pirmo reizi izdevusies veiksmīga drona notriekšana! Paldies par darbu @Latvijas_armija @AizsardzibasMin un sabiedrotajiem @NATO. Īpaši gribu izcelt profesionālo @AizsardzibasMin ministra R.Melnis darbu.
Diena vēl nav… pic.twitter.com/mVvXEAf6RI— Andris Kulbergs (AS) 🇺🇦🇱🇻 (@AndrisKulbergs) June 8, 2026
The incident marks the first confirmed case of NATO aircraft intercepting and destroying a drone over Latvia under the Baltic Air Policing mission, which has safeguarded the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since 2004.
It comes a month after Romanian F-16s shot down a drone over Estonia.
