A series of alarming drone sightings have emerged over three key military airbases in the UK, prompting concerns from the United States Air Force (USAF).
The incidents, which occurred between Wednesday and Friday, involved multiple “small unmanned aerial systems” hovering over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell.
The USAF confirmed the sightings but refrained from labeling the drones as hostile, stating it is still unclear what their intent might be. “We can confirm that small unmanned aerial systems [UASs] were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell,” a USAF spokesperson in Europe remarked.
They noted that the drones varied in size and configuration, but ensured that their monitoring efforts confirmed no danger to base residents or critical infrastructure.
While not disclosing specific defense measures employed during the sightings, the USAF asserted its authority to protect the installations. “We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities to ensure the safety of base personnel and assets,” the spokesperson added.
Both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath play vital roles in US military operations, housing advanced refueling wings and fighter jets, respectively. The British Ministry of Defence stressed its commitment to security at defence sites, confirming robust counter-drone capabilities but declining to elaborate further.
