In the context of increasing tensions in Europe, the appearance of surveillance drones over US Air Force Bases in England is a worrying development.
It arises that British troops are now deployed to these bases to protect them from drone attacks.
While it hasn’t been confirmed that the UAVs are ‘hostile’, there’s widespread concern of ‘sinister’ involvement from foreign foes.
Personnel with counter-drone and surveillance equipment are deployed to counter the multiple unidentified drones reported flying three air bases over the past week.
The Telegraph reported:
“It is understood that to counter any threats, personnel from the RAF Regiment, trained in security tasks related to air power delivery, will be operating the force’s Orcus Counter-Uncrewed Air System at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell, in Norfolk. The system can detect, track, identify and if necessary defeat hostile drones.”
The US Air Force continues to monitor the airspace over the three bases.
“Military sources told The Telegraph that while it was not known whether they were dealing with a ‘troublemaker’ or something ‘more sinister’ – such as Russian involvement – there were concerns that a state actor could be behind the disruption.”
‘Small unmanned aerial systems’ hovered over US bases last week, and again on Monday.
Besides that, a ‘mystery drone’ also followed British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth into the port of Hamburg, in Germany, last Friday.
“In a statement, a spokesman for the US Air Force in Europe, said: ‘We can confirm there were sightings yesterday [Monday] during night-time hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated and varied between the bases over the night’.”
Hellbound and Down 