The incidents took place between 20 and 22 November over RAF Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA
Unidentified drones have been spotted flying in the airspace over three air bases in the UK used by the United States Air Force (USAF). The incidents took place between 20 and 22 November over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, The Guardian reports.
USAF officials confirmed the sighting of “small unmanned systems” (UAS), but noted that it is not yet clear whether these drones can be considered hostile.
Military and government response
The US military said the incidents were actively monitored and none of them posed a threat to base residents or critical infrastructure. In a statement, a USAF spokesperson in Europe said:
“We can confirm that small unmanned systems were observed in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell between 20 and 22 November. The number and size of drones varied.”
As for the security measures, US Air Force representatives did not provide details, citing operational security issues. At the same time, they stressed the right to defend their facilities:
“We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with the British authorities and other partners to ensure the safety of personnel, facilities and resources at the bases.”
The British government underlines the seriousness of the threats
The UK Ministry of Defence has also confirmed its readiness for such challenges:
“We take the threats seriously and maintain robust security measures at defence installations, including anti-drone systems.”
At the same time, representatives of the Ministry refused to disclose details of security procedures.
These incidents have heightened concerns about the security of strategic sites amid growing drone activity in military and civilian areas. The military bases used by the United States in the UK are key elements of NATO’s infrastructure and play an important role in modern conflicts and intelligence operations.
