RAF Typhoons scramble from Romania to intercept Russian drones

Summary

At around 02:00 UTC between April 25-26, 2026, two RAF Typhoons based in Romania scrambled to intercept Russian drones approaching Romanian airspace near the Ukraine border.

In the early hours between Saturday and Sunday (April 25-26, 2026) at approximately 02:00 UTC, two Royal Air Force Typhoons stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase in Romania were scrambled to intercept Russian drones approaching Romanian airspace along NATO's eastern flank. The drones were actually heading toward Ukraine, not Romania, and remained strictly within Romanian airspace during the event. The RAF Typhoons monitored the situation and were ready to intervene but the drones moved away before interception action was necessary. The mission was short and tightly controlled, with no aircraft visible on tracking platforms and no aerial refueling tankers detected, indicating a limited duration sortie. This marks a sensitive moment of increased operational tension and highlights challenges NATO faces against relatively cheap drone threats, which complicate the use of expensive asset activation like Typhoon fighters. The article notes this incident may signal a shift toward more frequent intercepts along the Romanian border, emphasizing NATO's readiness and the evolving drone threat landscape amid intensified Russian drone activity targeting Ukraine.

Evidence

"At around 02:00 UTC overnight between Saturday and Sunday, two Royal Air Force Typhoons... were scrambled to intercept Russian drones approaching Romanian airspace."
"According to available information, the drones were heading toward Ukraine, not Romania. The Typhoons remained strictly within Romanian airspace, monitoring the situation and ready to intervene if required."
"No aircraft were visible on open tracking platforms... aerial refueling tankers were detected either, suggesting the sortie was limited in duration and conducted within a constrained operational window."
"Despite its brevity, the intercept represents a moment of significant operational tension. NATO aircraft were effectively placed on immediate standby to potentially engage Russian-origin drones."
"The widespread use of loitering munitions and low-cost UAVs has reshaped the air threat environment along NATO's borders."
"Whether this marks the start of more frequent intercepts along the Romanian border remains unclear. However, the readiness posture observed overnight suggests that NATO is increasingly preparing for scenarios that, until recently, were considered unlikely."

Classification

Confidence: High

The article explicitly describes hostile Russian drone activity approaching NATO (Romanian) airspace and RAF Typhoons scrambling to intercept, constituting a clear aggressor hybrid warfare signal.