US EditionDrone incidents at UK military bases doubled last year
The UK proposes new legal powers for military personnel to neutralize drones amid a 111% rise in incidents near defense sites last year, linked to suspected hostile state actions.
- On Feb 2, 2026 the U.K. government announced plans to give military personnel powers to shoot down unidentified drones near British military bases after incidents doubled to 266 in 2025, up from 126 in 2024.
- Amid a rise in sightings across Europe, current law requires troops to call local police when a suspected illegal drone is near a base, restricting immediate military action.
- The British Ministry of Defence tested a directed energy weapon in Wales, saying soldiers 'successfully tracked, targeted and defeated swarms of drones' using the RapidDestroyer RF DEW and invested in new drone defenses.
19 Articles
19 Articles
UK confirms Watchkeepr replacement this year
The Ministry of Defence has ruled out gifting the British Army Watchkeeper drone to Ukraine, while confirming continued spending on the retiring system and confirming a delivery date for its replacement under Project Corvus. In a written response to Conservative MP Mark Francois, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the government had prioritised newer, more cost-effective unmanned systems rather than transferring Watchkeeper to Ukraine. He said t…
In 2025, the number of drone incidents at British military bases doubled.
Drone incidents at UK military bases doubled last year
Britain's military bases experienced a doubling of drone incidents last year, highlighting the changing nature of warfare and prompting the government to hand more powers to its forces to protect sites from aerial threats.
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