Drones spotted over US bases in the UK, do not appear belong to ‘hobbyists’
Unidentified drones have been causing concern at joint U.S.-U.K. bases in the United Kingdom over the past week. According to Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin, four U.S. military bases in the U.K. have been targeted by swarms of small drones since November 20. These bases house American F-15 Strike Eagle and F-35 fighter jets and are located at RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell in eastern England, and RAF Fairford in southwestern England.
Military officials have expressed alarm at what appears to be a coordinated effort to test security at these bases. The U.K. military has deployed around 60 personnel to protect the bases from multiple drone incursions.
A senior U.S. official has stated that these drones are not typical hobbyist drones but rather small quadcopters and octocopters that are more sophisticated. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder reassured that these drone incursions have not impacted base residents, facilities, or U.S. assets on the bases.
The origin of the drones has not been revealed by U.S. officials, but the coordinated nature of the incursions suggests the involvement of an aggressive state actor. This comes shortly after Ukraine used long-range American ATACMs to target Russia following President Biden’s lifting of restrictions on the use of longer-range missiles. President Vladimir Putin has asserted Russia’s right to strike nations that allow their weapons to be used against Russia.
The U.K. Defense Ministry is collaborating with U.S. and local police to investigate the drones and determine if a foreign adversary is behind the incursions. U.S. Air Forces Europe has noted that the number and types of drones involved have varied, and they are actively monitoring the airspace to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets.
The incursion of drones follows a previous report by Fox about surveillance drones flying near Langley Air Force Base in Virginia last December. Despite their size, these drones present a similar challenge to base commanders.
RAF Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, a crucial component of the U.S. Air Force’s combat capability in Europe. RAF Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, while RAF Feltwell serves as a hub for various services. RAF Fairford is the base for the 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron.
The situation remains ongoing, and investigations are underway to determine the motives behind these drone incursions. The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
Jennifer Griffin, a national security correspondent for FOX News Channel, provided this information. She is based in the Washington D.C. bureau and has been with the network since October 1999, initially serving as a Jerusalem-based correspondent.
