A number of drones have been seen flying over U.S. Air Force bases in eastern England, according to officials. The sightings occurred Tuesday following previous drone activity in Suffolk and Norfolk, near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell. Meanwhile, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) were detected and monitored around these bases between November 20 and 22, as confirmed by USAF Europe on Sunday.
In a statement, the USAF noted that the UAS varied in size and configuration and emphasized that none of the drone sightings affected residents or essential infrastructure within the bases. “The number of UASs fluctuated, and they ranged in size/configuration,” the statement explained.
While specific force protection measures were not disclosed for operational security reasons, Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) said it “take[s] threats seriously and maintain[s] robust measures at defense sites. This includes counter-drone security capabilities.”
The source of the drone incursions remains unidentified. Consequently, the U.S. Air Force continues to monitor the airspace closely to prevent further unauthorized access.
Several suspicious incidents have taken place in Western countries as the proxy war between NATO and the Russian Federation in Ukraine has escalated, with packages igniting on several Western delivery flights and unexplained damage to subsea cables reported.