After the US and Germany reported the appearance of mystery drones over their military facilities, some unidentified drones have been spotted over military bases in the United Kingdom— a worrying trend that poses a massive threat to security.
In a statement, the United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) said that several small, unidentified drones were spotted close to three of its airbases in the United Kingdom: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, eastern England. The drones were reportedly sighted between November 20 and 22.
“Installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure,” a statement from the USAFE said. “To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation. We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets.”
CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that there were perhaps five or six drones whose movements seemed synchronized. The source stated that although US defense officials are currently investigating where these drones came from, they did not look like hobbyist drones. The source further went on to say that there is no proof they were able to gather any crucial intelligence.
The development was also confirmed by the United Kingdom. Britain’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defense sites. This includes counter-drone security capabilities.” Notably, the three military bases that sighted the drones are situated in eastern England, just a few miles apart.
RAF Lakenheath is home to the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, which has participated in post-9/11 operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is described by the USAF as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe. The sighting of drones over this facility assumes significance, especially because it will likely house US nuclear weapons in the future.
The other base where drones paid a visit is RAF Mildenhall, the site of the only permanent American wing in Europe that has carried out air refueling operations since 1992. RAF Feltwell, for one, served as a World War II bomber station and is currently a support site for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.
When probed by the media, the armed forces of both countries refused to take questions. They stated that an investigation into the incident was ongoing and that a hostile intent was not established. However, the incident has caused concern because the UK has had multiple encounters with unidentified and sometimes hostile drones in recent years.
In August of this year, for example, British soldiers received a warning that Russian spies might be using drones to monitor UK military installations to obtain information on the secret training program tailored for Ukrainian forces.
Before that, in April 2022, drone flights over British nuclear installations triggered concerns about spying. At the time, defense officials stated that they thought Beijing’s spies were behind 18 drone sightings at military installations and power plants in the United Kingdom in two years.
However, the latest incident has sent ripples across the world, as it comes after similar sightings were reported in the United States and Germany last year.
Mystery Drones Appeared Over US, Germany Bases
Before drones appeared over three military bases in the UK, unidentified drones were spotted over a key US base. In December 2023, a mysterious fleet of drones entered restricted US airspace and swarmed the Langley Air Force Base for about 17 days.
According to reports, a base officer told US Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly that the drones would start arriving every day between 45 and 60 minutes after nightfall, prompting the distinguished office to visit the base himself. The first drone Kelly saw was around 20 feet long, traveling over 100 miles per hour and hovering between 3,000 and 4,000 feet.
This was followed by up to a dozen or more drones that flew over Chesapeake Bay, toward Norfolk, Virginia, and through a space with a view of Naval Station Norfolk, the biggest naval port in the world and the home to the US Navy’s SEAL Team Six.
The Langley Air Base is considered crucial to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM), as it is home to the F-22 Raptors.
No drone was harmed as the US military is not authorized by federal law to shoot down drones near US military facilities unless they present an immediate threat. And a threat could not be established. There have been several worrying instances of drone breaches in the US. Even before the Langley incursion was reported, five drones had inexplicably breached restricted airspace over the Energy Department’s Nevada Nuclear Security Site outside of Las Vegas two months earlier.
However, the US base has not been the only scene of mysterious drone sightings. In August this year, German officials flagged unusual drone activity over its sensitive nuclear facilities, expressing concern about espionage. At the time, the German publication BILD reported that high-speed drones had been observed flying over nuclear power plants in the industrial area located in Brunsbüttel, Germany.
According to reports, the drones have been flying at very high speeds over the region near Brunsbüttel’s closed nuclear power station, liquefied natural gas terminal, and chemical factories since at least August 8. In fact, a drone was observed flying over the nuclear power station on the evening of August 20 at over 100 kilometers per hour.
The German Special Services believed that the drones above Brunsbüttel may have been launched by Russian agents working from ships in the North Sea to sabotage, but these claims could not be confirmed. However, the sightings rattled the German security services due to multiple security scares at the NATO and Bundeswehr military locations in Germany in the past year.
The proliferation of drones operating above critical facilities has escalated globally, especially in Europe, leading to concerns about spying from adversaries like Russia or China. Officials and experts have warned that drone operations over vital national infrastructure sites, navy battleships, and sensitive military locations pose a significant security issue– a fact now reinforced by the reported incidents in the UK.
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