Mystery drones have been discovered following a British aircraft carrier at sea and hovering over air force bases in England.
An unidentified 1.5 by 1.5 metre drone was spotted tailing HMS Queen Elizabeth into the harbour of Hamburg, Germany, on Friday, according to German newspaper Bild.
According to the newspaper, the Bundeswehr positioned guards around the port and attempted to target the drone with HP-47 jammers before the unmanned aircraft flew away.
The US Air Force (USAF) has also declared that it spotted “small unmanned aerial systems” over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk last week.
USAF, which uses the bases, said the size and number of drones overhead had fluctuated. The British Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on security procedures.
While it is unclear whether the drones have hostile intent, the incidents come during a week that saw the most significant escalation of hostilities in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.
The USAF warned that it has “the right to protect” bases in England.
“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation,” the Air Force said, adding: “We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets.”
Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which provides cutting-edge worldwide responsive combat air power in the form of fighter jets.
Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, which conducts combat support operations throughout Europe and Africa, while Feltwell provides housing, schools and other services.
British soldiers told to be wary of drones
British soldiers were warned last year that spies could be flying reconnaissance drones over UK military bases.
The Field Army Threat Handbook, published in October last year and promising clear military information concerning best practice for commanders and troops, details the tactics, techniques and procedures favoured by hostile foreign intelligence services.
Listed under “threats to the homebase”, the handbook warns of tactics such as “the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and physical reconnaissance”, stating there were particularly “credible espionage and subversion threats” surrounding the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
US warns it has ‘right to protect’ bases in England
The US Air Force (USAF) has warned that it has “the right to protect” bases in England from threats amid drone sightings this week.
Several clusters of “unmanned aerial systems” were spotted in the skies above RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell between 20 and 22 Nov.
“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation,” the Air Force said, adding: “We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets.”
Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which provides cutting-edge worldwide responsive combat air power in the form of fighter jets.
Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, which conducts combat support operations throughout Europe and Africa, while Feltwell provides housing, schools and other services.
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