Multiple unidentified drones have been detected near three major UK airbases, including RAF Lakenheath, which formerly hosted American nuclear weapons during the Cold War, the US Air Force (USAF) has confirmed.
According to a spokesperson for the USAF’s European Command, small unmanned aerial vehicles were observed between November 20 and 22 over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, as well as RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.
The number of suspicious drones “fluctuated and ranged in size and configuration,” and it remains unclear whether they posed a hostile threat, the military said.
The Pentagon declined to comment on whether any air defenses were employed against the drones, stating only that they actively monitored the situation to ensure 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,” the spokesman said.
The British Ministry of Defense also refused to comment on the specific security procedures taken against the drones. A spokesperson said the military is taking the threats seriously and maintains “robust measures” at critical defense sites.
RAF Lakenheath was one of three sites in Britain that hosted US nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War, housing 110 American warheads until a drawdown in 2008.
According to earlier media reports, the Pentagon is preparing the base to host nuclear weapons once again. The US military requested $50 million for a new “surety dormitory” at RAF Lakenheath in last year’s funding request to Congress, analyzed by a US think tank and British media. In January, The Telegraph reported that the base is expected to house B61-12 bombs, which are three times more powerful than those dropped on Hiroshima, citing procurement contracts for the new facility.