On 15 December 2025, Turkish F-16 fighter jets intercepted and shot down an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that had intruded into Turkish airspace from the Black Sea via the Kastamonu corridor. The UAV lost command-and-control connectivity, flew on a linear trajectory deep into Anatolia, and was destroyed by an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile approximately 200 km from the coast in the Çankırı–Elmadağ area. The Turkish air defence integrated radar data shared with NATO command, and visual identification confirmed the UAV's nature before lethal engagement. The UAV's origin remains uncertain but is likely a smaller fixed-wing drone similar to those used in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, possibly a Shahed-136-type loitering munition. Turkey emphasized safety and ongoing investigation without diplomatic escalation, reflecting its strategic position and regional security balance. The incident demonstrates Turkey's layered air defence and the operational concept known as the 'Steel Dome', integrating radar, command systems, electronic warfare, fighters, and missile weapons to counter low-signature aerial threats.

On 15 December 2025, Turkish F-16 fighter jets intercepted and shot down an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that had intruded into Turkish airspace from the Black Sea via the Kastamonu corridor. The UAV lost command-and-control connectivity, flew on a linear trajectory deep into Anatolia, and was destroyed by an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile approximately 200 km from the coast in the Çankırı–Elmadağ area. The Turkish air defence integrated radar data shared with NATO command, and visual identification confirmed the UAV's nature before lethal engagement. The UAV's origin remains uncertain but is likely a smaller fixed-wing drone similar to those used in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, possibly a Shahed-136-type loitering munition. Turkey emphasized safety and ongoing investigation without diplomatic escalation, reflecting its strategic position and regional security balance. The incident demonstrates Turkey's layered air defence and the operational concept known as the 'Steel Dome', integrating radar, command systems, electronic warfare, fighters, and missile weapons to counter low-signature aerial threats.