Two F-16AM Fighting Falcons with the Romanian Air Force were scrambled early Thursday to investigate an unidentified naval surface drone spotted near the Neptun Deep Project, a major European offshore natural gas field off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea. On approach, the drone - believed to be of Russian origin - was determined to be an active threat, with one of the F-16s using its M61A1 Vulcan Six-Barrel Gatling Gun to target and destroy the explosive-laden surface drone, roughly 80NM east of the Romanian Black Sea coastal city of Constanța. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed the incident on Russia, stating in a post online: “I strongly condemn the intensification of these types of irresponsible incidents on the part of the Russian Federation.” While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as part of an “escalating campaign of threats” against the European Union.