Romania is strengthening the defense of four military ports located along the Black Sea and the Danube River due to increasing threats posed by air and maritime unmanned systems against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.
Sea-news.az reports that the installation of new anti-drone systems acquired in cooperation with the United States has begun.
“Black Talon” systems will be deployed in the naval ports of Constanța and Mangalia, as well as the Danube ports of Brăila and Tulcea. Initial testing of the equipment is underway at the port of Constanța, with the system expected to be commissioned by the end of October.
The “Black Talon” is designed to detect and track unmanned vehicles moving in the airspace and on the water surface. Its observation range reaches 10 kilometers, allowing for monitoring of both the military and civilian sections of the ports.
As part of the project, the installation of “Sentinelle” equipment for underwater environment monitoring is also planned. This system will enable observation at depths exceeding 50 meters. Thus, the port defense strategy provides for the simultaneous tracking of aerial, surface, and underwater threats.
Commander of the Constanța military port, Rear Admiral Ciprian Mandachi, stated that the “Black Talon” makes it possible to sever the communication between an unmanned vehicle and its operator. According to him, the cooperation program with the U.S. Navy, ongoing for several years, has now reached the operational phase. Training for personnel who will operate the system is currently ongoing at the manufacturing facility.
Chief of Staff of the Romanian Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Mihai Panait, emphasized that the new equipment will create additional capabilities for the protection of ships and critical infrastructure located in the ports.
The strengthening of security measures is linked to recent events in the Black Sea. On August 20, Romanian military personnel destroyed an explosives-laden maritime drone within the country’s exclusive economic zone, a few hundred meters from the platform of the “Neptun Deep” gas project. The incident occurred approximately 80 nautical miles east of Constanța. The Ukrainian side stated through a direct communication channel with Bucharest that the device did not belong to Ukraine.
According to the Romanian Ministry of Defense, 25 unmanned vehicles entered the country’s airspace during the first eight months of 2026, four of which were shot down by fighter jets. A total of 64 attacks were recorded near the border with Ukraine during the same period, compared to 28 in the same period last year.
The protection of energy infrastructure in the Black Sea is also of particular importance to Romania. Natural gas production at the “Neptun Deep” project is scheduled to begin in 2027. The Romanian Naval Forces conduct joint patrol activities in this area with frigates, auxiliary ships, explosive ordnance disposal diving units, and the coast guard.
