UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the government is working on new legislation that would enable the armed forces to bring down unidentified drones over military bases. In November 2024, unauthorised drone activity was reported over and near four US Air Force bases in the UK: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell and RAF Fairford.
Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Annual Defence and Security Lecture in London, Healey warned of “a new era of threat,” and the risk of “state-on-state conflict.”
He spoke of the increasing number of attack drones being launched into Ukraine, noting that 19 of these drones crossed into Polish airspace last month.
The UK has delivered more than 85,000 military drones to Ukraine in six months, and on October 14, Healey said GBP 600 million has been invested by the UK this year to accelerate drone delivery for Ukraine, including tens of thousands of short-range first-person view (FPV) drones.
Later this month, a team of British military counter-drone experts will arrive in Moldova, where they will help scope requirements for the country’s counter-drone tactics.
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Image: A pilot prepares to land at RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 4, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aidan Martínez)
