Britain has stepped in to help safeguard Danish airspace after a wave of mysterious drone sightings sent shockwaves across Northern Europe.
A specialist Royal Air Force counter-drone unit has been urgently deployed to Denmark following several alarming incidents that forced multiple airports to shut down temporarily, including Copenhagen and Aalborg.
The move comes as European leaders meet in Copenhagen, under the shadow of rising regional tensions and renewed fears of “grey zone” aggression, covert tactics that stop short of open warfare but test national defences all the same.
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the deployment, calling it a “necessary step” to help Denmark respond to “the drone attacks observed at its main airport and regional airports.”
“No one should be in any doubt that we are facing a level of grey zone activity and aggression which is testing us and testing other countries,” Healey warned.
Airports Forced to Close
The latest string of incidents began on 22 September, when unidentified drones were spotted hovering over Copenhagen Airport and Oslo Gardermoen Airport in neighbouring Norway, forcing both to close for several hours.
Just two days later, Aalborg and Billund airports in Denmark were also temporarily shut after similar sightings, while other airports reported drone activity but managed to stay open.
Then, on 27 September, drones were again detected, this time above Royal Danish Air Force bases at Skrydstrup and Karup, raising concerns that the activity may be more than random mischief.
Allies Rally Around Denmark
While some have speculated about possible Russian involvement, Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has stressed that there is no direct evidence linking Moscow to the incursions.
Still, the response has been swift. Denmark is now working hand in hand with its allies, including the UK, US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and Ukraine, all of whom have contributed personnel and equipment on Danish soil.
This multinational support underscores the growing importance of counter-drone capabilities in modern defence. The RAF’s involvement brings both cutting-edge technology and the elite expertise of the RAF Regiment, capable of detecting, tracking and neutralising unauthorised drones in real time.
General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard, Denmark’s Chief of Defence, praised the international show of unity:
“The support we are currently seeing from our close allies is tangible proof of the strong international cooperation of which Denmark is a part, both in the EU and NATO. It enables us to adapt quickly to the present situation and demonstrate that, when it matters, we stand together.”
As drone incursions become the latest frontier in European security, this deployment signals a clear message: when allied airspace is threatened, the RAF stands ready.
