A first for the “Carpathian Vipers” Detachment

A Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft, which conducts enhanced Air Policing Missions in the Baltic airspace, as part of Romania's commitment to NATO's collective security, shot down a drone in the Estonian airspace on Tuesday, May 19th.
Thus, today, at around 11:00, two F-16 aircraft of the Carpathian Vipers Detachment were scrambled by the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) Uedem for an Air Policing alert in the airspace in the area of responsibility.
The pilots detected and identified the target and went through all identification, engagement approval and risk minimization procedures, after which they launched an air-to-air missile, which shut down a drone.
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The "Carpathian Vipers" detachment, consisting of approximately 100 military troops and six F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, has been deployed to Lithuania, at the Šiauliai Air Base, and will conduct enhanced Air Policing Service throughout April - July 2026.
This is the fourth deployment of the Romanian Air Force in Lithuania, where it provided for the protection of the airspace integrity of the Baltic States and NATO.
The first Air Policing Mission was conducted between August and October 2007, by a detachment of 67 soldiers and four MiG-21 LanceRs of the 71st "General Emanoil Ionescu" Air Base. The second and third missions were conducted between April and July 2023 and, respectively, April and July 2025, by 100 soldiers and four F-16 Fighting Falcon jets of the 86th "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță" Air Base.

The Press Office