A French Dassault Rafale fighter participating in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission reportedly intercepted a Ukrainian Maya decoy drone after it entered NATO airspace. The incident highlighted growing concerns over unmanned aircraft straying beyond intended flight paths near the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone. Analysts suggested Russian electronic warfare measures, including GPS jamming and spoofing, may have contributed to the drone’s navigation problems. The Maya drone is designed to imitate larger strike UAVs and draw enemy air-defence fire. The episode has renewed debate over whether advanced fighter jets are the most cost-effective response to routine drone incursions.
E-Paper
