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Uncrewed aerial systems are believed to have led the US Air Force to scramble jets at militarily significant RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk (Picture: Reuters/Getty) As F-15s tore into the skies and a police helicopter chased red flashing lights, the alarm was raised at the highest levels in Westminster. A retired police detective has gathered evidence showing how the reports of drones at RAF Lakenheath were escalated to the Cabinet and followed by warnings to eight other bases across the country. But almost a year on, events at the military significant air base and two others used by the Pentagon’s UK-based air force are shrouded in mystery, with the leading theory pointing at Russian ‘grey zone’ tactics. To date, the incidents are known to have impacted the highly sensitive ‘Liberty Wing’ facility in Lakenheath, Suffolk, nearby Mildenhall, Feltwell in Norfolk and Fairford, a major facility in Gloucestershire. All of the air force sites are home to American forces, with Lakenheath used for American F-15, F-35 and F-22 combat aircraft and being said to have recently taken in nuclear warheads. Yet despite the critical implications for national security no explanation has been made publicly by the government or the Ministry of Defence Police, who are leading the investigation. A US F-35 takes off from RAF Lakenheath at the time of the drone incursions which took place over three consecutive nights (Picture: @LibertyWingUK) Close call with F-15 At the time, the incidents were deemed so serious that they were escalated to COBR, the cabinet committee convened to handle matters of national emergency or major disruption. Mike Morgan compares the secretive investigation into the reports, which preceded similar events over airports in Europe, to the disclosure around the Palestine Action vandalism at RAF Brize Norton. The retired senior detective has examined the military and civilian authority responses at the time, which include a British police light helicopter misidentifying drones in the dark near Liberty Wing. One object was observed by the EC135 pilot to have ‘red flashing lights’ and to be ‘carrying out large orbits of Lakenheath airfield’ at a height in excess of 1,500ft. The drone was later found to be a US F-15, likely to be among the fleet which made repeated sorties over three nights of sightings beginning on November 20. The redacted UK response to the drone incidents (Picture: Ministry of Defence) While the Airprox Board, a civilian body examining near-misses, judged the encounter not to have presented a collision risk, the question remains of what triggered the initial launches and whether miscommunication could have been present in other sightings. ‘The sole infra-red still from the helicopter’s camera that night shows a distant oval or sphere-shaped object, but it could be anything with lens or infra-red flaring causing distortion,’ Morgan said. ‘They promised me they would in time release the full 30-minute footage but, five weeks later, I am still waiting.’ Morgan has evidence showing that warnings about drones were given to eight other RAF bases in December, including top secret Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire and nearby Flyingdales, which provides a ballistic missile early warning service to the US and UK. What were ‘drone swarms’? Russian activity? Three people with links to Russian military and intelligence sites travelled to stay near the airbases before the incidents, according to a report. One was just metres from the perimeter of Mildenhall when the drones were flying, the i said. Two of the trio were believed to have worked as seasonal fruit pickers. UK and US officials have been investigating Kremlin involvement in the incursions, according to the newspaper. Morgan said locals responded to the scenario with ‘incredulity’ and told him there are no fruit pickers in the region at that time of year. The MoD told Metro yesterday that to disclose information about the investigation would ‘help our adversaries and damage national security’ without going into detail. Misidentified stars, lights in the night sky, Starlink? Drone commentator Ian Hudson has said that the close call between a helicopter and F-15 shows the risk of misidentifying ‘lights in the night sky, planets, Starlink and navigation lights’. Morgan believes stars or distant aircraft may be behind some reports but not all. Advanced technology? At the end of last year, theories swirled after a month of drone sightings over New Jersey and other US states. No official explanation was given, other than that they did not pose any danger. Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration announced in January that hobbyists, recreational pilots and private individuals were responsible for many of the reports. However an unnamed private firm contracted by the US military said last month that it had launched objects to ‘test out our capabilities’, according to the NY Post. How widespread were warnings? He has examined Notice to Airmen reports, which identify hazards to air personnel, and interviewed witnesses, people living near Lakenheath and YouTubers who live stream footage from military air bases So far, the only public explanations of the events have come from the US side, with the UK MoD only releasing heavily redacted logs. The documents show the drones, possibly inter-linked ‘swarms’, repeatedly flew over the same area and suggest one or more operators may have been ‘ready and waiting’ for clear weather before launching the UAS at night. Around 60 RAF personnel were deployed to support the US Air Force, which said that ‘small unmanned aerial systems’ varying in size and number were spotted near and in the vicinity of the three bases. The US 48th Communications Squadron based at Lakenheath has only given a holding position of ‘unusual circumstances’ in response to the request for information about the events — making reference to the process of searching for and collecting the information. An unknown light in the sky as captured by ‘Liberty’ (Picture: @LibertyWingUK) West ‘has failed security test’ Future responses to such incidents may turn kinetic, with the British government moving to give soldiers new powers to shoot down ‘unidentified drones’ threatening military bases. Defence Secretary John Healey unveiled the plans to counter a ‘new era of threat’ in a Lord Mayor’s Mansion House speech last month. The development comes as several EU member states back plans for a ‘drone wall’ to protect against Russian incursions. Robert Garbett, founder and chief executive of Drone Major Group, which consults globally on the technology, told Metro: ‘The incursions by a swarm of large drones over RAF Lakenheath must be taken as a lesson in the need for effective protection of the West’s defence installations and Critical National Infrastructure, particularly given the recent rise in drone incursions over airports across Europe. ‘The purpose of such incursions can only be guessed at but it seems clear to me that the core purpose is to test the capabilities and will of the West to deal with such threats. To date, I surmise that we have failed that test.’ The stakes in the UK have been raised even higher, with the US deploying F-22A jets to Lakenheath at the time of its strikes on Iran in June and nuclear weapons said by former NATO arms control expert William Alberque to have been transferred to the base. US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons at RAF Lakenheath where drone activity is under investigation (Picture: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Mr Garbett told Metro that the protection of critical sites against evolving Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) that can be made from ‘off-the-shelf’ items and operated from anywhere in the world is paramount. ‘To counter these threats, together with modern intelligence services, we must have long-range counter-uncrewed air system detection and stand-off intercept capability to incapacitate or destroy such aircraft over low-risk areas before they have a chance to reach our national security assets and Critical National Infrastructure,’ he said. ‘Sending jets against such aircraft is a massive waste of strategic assets, so intercept systems are much more cost-effective and can deal with large numbers of aircraft. It should be the aim to intercept on our terms and not wait until they reach sensitive areas.’ Mr Garbett added: ‘Dealing with drone threats on our terms, protecting the public, our national security assets and our Critical National Infrastructure must now be a high priority.’ RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk is also a base for US Air Force operations in the UK and a site of unexplained drone activity (Picture: David Goddard/Getty Images) ‘Veil of silence’ Morgan, who has written a new book about the Lakenheath drone incidents, believes the lack of information in itself is puzzling. ‘Perhaps the most striking element of the entire series of sightings is the lack of information from the MoD Police,’ he said. ‘They have not issued a press release or given a press conference in 12 months. Despite requests for innocuous information like the name of the inquiry, its senior investigating officer, how many staff are involved and how much it has cost the British taxpayers to date, they reply with exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act. ‘Compare this to the Palestine Action case at Brize Norton. ‘The suspects were identified and detained within a week, with the case being raised in parliament and leading to a security review. The evolving use of drones and their ability to be deployed as attack vehicles has led to security concerns (Picture: Anna Barclay/Getty) In the months since the UK incident, drones have caused major disruption and concern at civilian airports in Germany and Denmark. Copenhagen Police were unequivocal in their response to incursions that caused the city’s airport to shut down in September. Inspector Jens Jespersen said: ‘They intended to show off. It is an actor who has the capabilities, the will and the tools to show off in this way.’ ‘When coupled with the European and US drone sightings, plus the recent authority to shoot drones down, it does make one wonder what is actually going on,’ Morgan said. ‘Prior to last November some information was released by the British authorities about reports of drones over sensitive UK sites, but it would appear a veil of silence has descended. ‘The question is why?’ The MoD has maintained that it has ‘robust measures’ to protect defence sites without going into details. A spokesperson said: ‘Air defence is vital to UK national security, which is why we are investing up to £1 billion to improve air defence and keep the UK secure. ‘As threats emerge, we are using cutting-edge technology to detect, deter, and respond swiftly to any unauthorised aerial activity. ‘We do not release sensitive information on investigations as to do so would only help our adversaries and damage national security. ‘We work closely with our allies on countering threats and regularly share best practice.’ Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk ArrowMORE: ‘Drones are taking Putin’s grey zone war into the heart of Europe’s civilian airspace’ ArrowMORE: ‘Evasive’ pilot arrested after mystery drone spotted flying near UK military base ArrowMORE: Up to six mystery drones spotted over UK nuclear plant in possible ‘malicious’ event ArrowMORE: Mystery deepens over drone swarms spotted above RAF bases in the UK
