Romania scrambles F-16s after aerial target enters Tulcea airspace

aerial target drone intrusion Tulcea county F-16 scramble RO-Alert

On the night of August 12-13, 2026, Romanian radar systems detected five aerial targets over Ukraine near Ismail, close to the river border. One of these targets entered Romanian airspace approximately 2 km south of Pardina in Tulcea county. The target traveled along the Chilia branch for about 10 minutes before exiting back into Ukrainian territory near Chilia Veche. Following its exit, explosions were reported in Ukraine.

The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) scrambled two F-16 fighter jets from the 86th Air Base Borcea to monitor the situation. An RO-Alert was issued to the population in northern Tulcea, and the alert was lifted at 02:42.

Later that morning, at 09:02 on August 13, a second aerial target was detected near the border. This prompted another RO-Alert at 09:13 and the subsequent scrambling of two F-16 aircraft at 09:20 to monitor the new development.

Entities

Chilia Arm · F-16 · Ismail · Ministry of National Defence · Romania · Romanian Air Force · Tulcea · Tulcea County · Ukraine

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 7 SOURCES] MApN radar systems detected five aerial targets over Ukraine near Ismail at 01:27 on August 13. radiochisinau.md · focuspress.ro · www.radioimpuls.ro · www.aradon.ro · financiarul.ro · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The target remained in Romanian airspace for approximately 10 minutes along the Chilia branch. radiochisinau.md · focuspress.ro · www.radioimpuls.ro · www.aradon.ro · financiarul.ro · +2 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] A second aerial target was detected near the border at 09:02 on August 13. newsweek.ro
[● 7 SOURCES] Explosions were reported in Ukraine shortly after the target exited Romanian airspace. radiochisinau.md · focuspress.ro · www.radioimpuls.ro · www.aradon.ro · financiarul.ro · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] A RO-Alert was issued for the population in northern Tulcea county. radiochisinau.md · focuspress.ro · www.radioimpuls.ro · www.aradon.ro · financiarul.ro · +2 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Two F-16 aircraft were scrambled for a second time at 09:20 on August 13. newsweek.ro
[● 7 SOURCES] One aerial target entered Romanian airspace approximately 2 km south of Pardina. radiochisinau.md · focuspress.ro · www.radioimpuls.ro · www.aradon.ro · financiarul.ro · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Two F-16 fighter jets from Borcea Air Base 86 were scrambled to monitor the situation. radiochisinau.md · focuspress.ro · www.radioimpuls.ro · www.aradon.ro · financiarul.ro · +2 more