Criminal probe launched after US Air Force spots drones over UK bases

A criminal investigation has been initiated after the US Air Force reported sightings of drones flying over British military bases.

The US Air Force reported several drone incursions in the past week at four bases where American forces are stationed. The drones were monitored, and unspecified countermeasures were being taken, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Ministry of Defence Police, along with local authorities and US forces, are investigating the incidents, Defence Minister Vernon Coaker stated in Parliament. He emphasized that safety concerns are taken very seriously, with strong security measures in place at Ministry of Defence sites, including counter-drone capabilities.

Anyone found guilty of such offenses could face up to 14 years in prison under national security laws, Coaker added.

It remains unclear whether the drones had hostile intentions, but these incidents occur amid heightened tensions in Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. Ukraine has recently targeted Russian sites with intermediate-range missiles provided by the US and the UK, after President Joe Biden authorized their use. In response, President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia has the right to strike nations that allow their weapons to be used against it.

The drone flights, which began on November 20 and continued with several incursions on Tuesday, were observed over or near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell in eastern England, and RAF Fairford in the southwest. Lakenheath houses the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, a key part of its European combat capability. Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and Feltwell provides housing and services. Fairford is home to the 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron.

Coaker also mentioned a drone sighting on Friday, flying just 250 meters from the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, as it entered the German port of Hamburg.

By Vafa Guliyeva