NATO fighter jets intercept and down foreign drone over Latvia

In the early hours of August 14, 2026, the Latvian military reported that a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) entered Latvian airspace from the east. In response to the breach, NATO fighter jets operating under alliance command were scrambled, and an Italian fighter successfully shot down the drone. Latvian authorities had previously issued a temporary alarm, advising residents to stay indoors, but this order was lifted following the interception.

While the exact origin of the drone remains officially unconfirmed, the Latvian military noted that Russian electronic warfare activities were ongoing in the region at the time, suggesting the device may have been an uncrewed Ukrainian drone that drifted off course. NATO spokesperson Alison Hart confirmed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway, with the alliance maintaining close contact with Latvian officials.

This incident follows a similar event in June when French Rafale jets, also serving in the NATO Baltic air policing mission, intercepted a drone in Latvian airspace. Baltic states have reported a marked increase in aerial incursions, often occurring alongside intensified drone activity in neighboring Russian regions, such as the Leningrad oblast, where authorities reported repelling over 50 Ukrainian drones on the same night.