Unidentified drones have been seen over three air bases in Britain which are used by the United States Air Force (USAF)this week, both countries have confirmed.
The USAF confirmed “small unmanned aerial systems” (UASs) were spotted flying above and in the vicinity of Royal Air Force bases in Lakenheath, Mildenhall, and Feltwell in eastern England between November 20 and 22, The Press Association news agency reported.
It is unclear at this stage if the drones spotted were considered hostile.
“The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size/configuration,” the USAF said in a statement.
“The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure.
“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures, but retain the right to protect the installation. 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.”
A spokesperson for Britain’s Ministry of Defence said: “We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defense sites. This includes counter-drone security capabilities.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
