British soldiers will soon have the authority to shoot down drones threatening UK military bases under new powers set to be unveiled by Defence Secretary John Healey.
The plan, which introduces a new “kinetic option”, will allow British troops or Ministry of Defence (MoD) police to destroy drones that endanger military sites, a step beyond current rules that limit action to diverting or disrupting signals.
Until now, soldiers could only shoot down an unidentified drone in extreme circumstances. The move aims to let troops act faster amid rising drone activity across Europe
The move follows a string of mysterious drone sightings last year at airbases used by US forces, including RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Around 60 RAF personnel were deployed to assist the US Air Force’s investigation, though neither US nor UK officials have revealed who was behind the activity.
The affected airbases have strategic importance for the US military, which recently deployed F-22A fighter jets to RAF Lakenheath following airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June.
The new powers will initially apply only to military locations but could later extend to civilian areas such as airports, where drone incursions have repeatedly disrupted air traffic.
Europe has also seen a sharp rise in drone incidents. Earlier this month, EU leaders met in Denmark to discuss coordinated defences, including a proposed multi-layered “drone wall” to detect and destroy Russian drones.
Twenty Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace in September, while Russian MiG-31 jets violated Estonia’s airspace later that month, both incidents Moscow has denied.
Several European airports, including those in Munich, Denmark, and Norway, were forced to close after drones were spotted near airports and military zones.
Authorities say there is no evidence linking the incidents directly to Russia, but security agencies across Europe are on alert.
South Korea and the United States are scaling back their annual joint military exercises following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump to sub...
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most s...
The United States is pushing to establish a formal deconfliction mechanism between Israel, Türkiye and Syr...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Monday it was reviewing U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on scaling back joint military drills. It added that it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks.
Russia said its air defences downed 180 drones over the Moscow region overnight, with 620 drones reportedly targeting the area, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
South Korea and the United States are scaling back their annual joint military exercises following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump to substantially reduce American participation.
The United States is pushing to establish a formal deconfliction mechanism between Israel, Türkiye and Syria after Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian airbase raised concerns about the risk of a wider regional confrontation.
U.S. President Donald Trump has paused a planned 50 per cent tariff increase on Canadian goods for three days, saying Washington and Ottawa had reached a preliminary agreement.
A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Ethiopian nationals living in the United States, removing one of the last major legal obstacles to a broader effort to roll back humanitarian immigration protections.
With governments focused on conflicts in the Gulf and Ukraine, China is pressing ahead with a more assertive military and strategic posture across the Pacific, particularly around its immediate neighbourhood.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment