UK defense personnel will be given expanded powers to defeat hostile drones near military bases under new legislation introduced through the Armed Forces Bill, as the number of drone incidents near defense sites doubled last year.
Figures published by the Ministry of Defence show that 266 drone incidents were recorded near UK military sites in 2025, up from 126 in 2024, a demonstration of the growing threat posed by rogue and potentially hostile drones.
Under the proposed legislation, authorised defense personnel will be able to take direct action against drones deemed to pose a threat to military sites without requiring police assistance. The new powers will also extend beyond aerial systems, allowing personnel to neutralize land-based and maritime drones, including those operating on or under water.
At present, legislation permitting interference with drones for crime prevention purposes is largely restricted to police forces and certain civilian agencies. The Armed Forces Bill aims to close that gap by allowing the military to protect its own sites and operations more effectively.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said the increase in drone activity underlined the changing nature of security threats facing the UK.
“The doubling of rogue drones near military sites in the UK in the last year underlines the increasing and changing nature of the threats we face,” Healey said. “Through the Armed Forces Bill, we’re giving our military greater powers to take out and shoot down threatening drones near bases, and stepping up investment in counter-drone technology to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad.”
The government says the new powers build on a broader programme to strengthen base security after what it described as years of under-investment. Spending on counter-UAS has been quadrupled since the government took office, with more than £200 million allocated this year alone as part of priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
Recent measures include the introduction of restricted airspace around 40 defense sites, the deployment of new guard drones, investment in advanced CCTV and integrated threat-monitoring systems, and £20 million in digital upgrades to modernize base security infrastructure.
Automated track-and-detect systems are now operational at multiple key locations, providing continuous surveillance and faster response to potential threats, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The Armed Forces Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 15 January 2026 and passed its second reading on 26 January.
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