Britain is boosting its drone threat response. The government will soon let soldiers shoot down drones. This new policy aims to protect military bases from aerial threats. Defence Secretary John Healey will announce the plan on Monday. Consequently, troops can act faster against dangerous drones.
Currently, soldiers have limited options. They mainly try to divert drones. They can also disrupt GPS signals. However, they rarely shoot drones down. The new rules introduce a kinetic option. This means troops can use lethal force. Ministry of Defence police will also have this power.
This decision follows several security incidents. Last November, four UK airbases reported drone incursions. These bases host important US forces. RAF Lakenheath was one affected site. So were RAF Mildenhall, Feltwell, and Fairford. These events caused significant alarm.
Authorities then launched a major investigation. Around sixty RAF personnel assisted the US Air Force. Nevertheless, officials have not named the culprits. The timing of the incidents raised questions. Importantly, the US had just sent F-22 jets to Lakenheath. This followed American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Meanwhile, Europe faces similar drone problems. Recently, EU leaders held an emergency summit. They met in Denmark to discuss the growing danger. Subsequently, many countries backed a drone wall proposal. This system would detect and destroy hostile drones.
For instance, Russian drones entered Poland in September. Later, Russian jets breached Estonian airspace. Moscow denies any involvement. Still, NATO allies remain very concerned.
Furthermore, civilian airports have also suffered disruptions. Munich Airport closed for two days. Drones also caused shutdowns in Copenhagen and Oslo. These events show the widespread nature of the problem.
Therefore, the UK is proactively updating its rules. The new drone threat response powers focus on military sites. However, the government may later include civilian airports. This would create a unified national security framework.
Ultimately, technology keeps evolving. So governments must adapt their defences. The UK’s enhanced drone threat response tackles this modern challenge. It ensures military personnel can protect vital national assets effectively.
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