The days of unidentified drones buzzing around Britain’s most sensitive airbases may soon be over, because the UK military is about to get the green light to shoot them down.
Defence Secretary John Healey is preparing to unveil new powers that would allow troops and the Ministry of Defence Police to take “kinetic action” against rogue drones near British military sites. In other words, if it’s unidentified and flying where it shouldn’t be, it could soon be blasted out of the sky.
A Growing Threat in British Airspace
The decision follows a string of mystery drone sightings last year around RAF Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Feltwell and Fairford, bases that all host American forces and cutting-edge aircraft, including F-15s, F-35s, and soon, even US nuclear warheads.
Up until now, troops were limited to using signal jamming or specialist counter-drone equipment to fend off suspicious aircraft. But under the new plans, they’ll finally have the authority to shoot down drones in “extreme circumstances”, a significant shift in policy designed to plug a growing gap in the UK’s air defence.
And while the new powers will initially focus on military sites, government insiders say airports and other key infrastructure could be included in the future.
A Swarm That Sparked Alarm
It all began on 20 November last year, when drones were detected flying near RAF sites for three consecutive nights. Intelligence officers feared they might be part of a coordinated ‘swarm’, triggering a rapid response from around 60 RAF personnel tasked with solving the mystery.
According to data from the Ministry of Defence Police, there were 263 drone-related incidents over or near UK military bases in 2024 alone. Most were harmless or unconfirmed, but several involved evasive pilots, unauthorised surveillance, or drones breaching restricted airspace.
A Europe-Wide Problem
The problem isn’t confined to Britain. Across northern Europe and Scandinavia, militaries have reported a wave of similar sightings.
In Norway, guards at Ørland Air Force Base, home to F-35 fighter jets, logged multiple suspicious flights. In Denmark, drones were spotted over the country’s largest military airfield at Karup. And in Estonia, a member of the public stumbled across a drone fragment in a nature reserve near Pärnu.
Each incident adds to a growing sense of unease among European defence officials, raising questions about who’s behind these mysterious flights, and what they’re trying to achieve.
The Message Is Clear
The UK’s new drone-downing policy sends a firm signal: the days of toying with British military airspace are numbered.
As one defence source put it: “If you fly where you shouldn’t, don’t expect to fly back out.”
