Unidentified drones have been observed flying over three bases used by the United States Air Force in Britain, authorities from both countries confirmed. The incidents, which occurred between Wednesday and Saturday, involved the Royal Air Force (RAF) bases at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell in eastern England.

A spokesperson for the US Air Forces in Europe stated:

“Installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure.”

Según a CNN source, five to six drones were involved, and their activity appeared to be coordinated. While the origin of the drones remains under investigation, they were not believed to be operated by hobbyists. The source added that the drones posed no threat to the bases, nor was there evidence they had gathered sensitive intelligence.

A representative of the UK Ministry of Defence said:

“We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites. This includes counter-drone security capabilities.”

Both governments declined to provide further details on the events.

The three bases, located just miles apart, are key to US and NATO operations. RAF Mildenhall is home to the USAF’s 100th Air Refueling Wing, the only permanent American wing in Europe for air refueling. Nearby, RAF Lakenheath houses the 48th Fighter Wing, which has played significant roles in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11. RAF Feltwell, while smaller, supports military logistics and operations.

This is not the first time these bases have faced security challenges. In 2017, a car attempted to breach the Mildenhall base entrance, prompting US personnel to fire shots and initiate a temporary lockdown.

The coordinated drone sightings come amid heightened concerns over the use of UAS for reconnaissance or disruptive purposes. Both the US and UK are expected to continue their investigations into the incidents.

Post Image – Aerial view of RAF Lakenheath (Post Image Credit: Wikipedia).