Eyes in the Sky: Surge in Drone Intrusions Exposes Security Gaps at UK Military Bases

It was just past midnight when an RAF sentry at a quiet Norfolk airbase spotted a faint, blinking light drifting silently above the perimeter fence. Within minutes, the object vanished - but not before raising alarms that would echo through the Ministry of Defence. The incident wasn’t isolated: reports of drones hovering near UK military installations have doubled in the past year, igniting fears of espionage, sabotage, or worse.

The Ministry of Defence’s latest figures paint a stark picture: the number of drone incursions near critical defense sites has more than doubled in a single year, with 266 incidents logged in 2024. Many of these encounters occur at night, with drones observed over airbases hosting both British and US forces. The spike has triggered alarm not just in London but across NATO, as similar patterns emerge in Belgium, Poland, Romania, Denmark, and Germany.

Security officials are increasingly concerned that these small, uncrewed aerial vehicles may be used for hostile reconnaissance - mapping base layouts, monitoring movements, or probing for vulnerabilities. The European Commission has openly linked the incidents to “hybrid war” tactics, with Russia named as a likely culprit. In a climate of heightened tension, every unidentified drone is now treated as a potential threat.

Until now, UK military personnel faced legal restrictions when responding to drone threats: unless life or critical assets were at immediate risk, police intervention was required before taking action. That’s about to change. The new Armed Forces Bill, introduced to Parliament last month, will empower trained service members to intercept, disable, or destroy any drone - airborne, land-based, or submersible - posing a danger to defense assets.

Defence Secretary John Healey has described the move as essential, stressing that “the increasing and changing nature of the threats we face” demands swift, decisive responses. Alongside legal reforms, the government has pledged increased investment in counter-drone technology, from radio jammers to directed energy weapons, aiming to outpace adversaries in this rapidly evolving contest.

Behind the legislative push lies a sobering reality: drones are cheap, accessible, and increasingly capable. Whether deployed by foreign intelligence, criminal syndicates, or lone actors, their potential to disrupt or surveil sensitive sites is growing. As the UK and its allies scramble to adapt, the battle for control of the low skies has become a defining security challenge of the decade.

For Britain’s armed forces, the days of treating drones as mere nuisances are over. The focus now is on rapid detection, robust defenses, and the legal authority to neutralize threats before they escalate. As technology races ahead, so too must the rules of engagement - and the vigilance of those guarding the nation’s most sensitive frontiers.

WIKICROOK

• Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV): An uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) is a drone operated remotely or autonomously, posing unique cybersecurity risks due to potential hacking and data interception.
• Hybrid Warfare: Hybrid warfare mixes military, cyber, and information tactics to destabilize opponents, allowing states or groups to cause disruption without direct conflict.
• Counter: A counter is a system that detects, tracks, and neutralizes drones, protecting sensitive areas from unauthorized or malicious UAV activity.
• Directed Energy Weapon: A directed energy weapon uses focused energy, such as lasers or microwaves, to disable or destroy targets without firing physical projectiles.
• Reconnaissance: Reconnaissance is the early stage of a cyberattack where attackers gather information about a target to identify weaknesses and plan their approach.