FEARS are mounting after a series of suspected Russian drones target US airbases in the UK which are set to store nuclear missiles.
The small number of drones were sighted in the skies near RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell, in Norfolk, a US Air Force spokesperson confirmed.
Military troops have since been drafted in over concerns Russia is behind a spate of sabotage flights.
It comes just days after a fleet of “unmanned aerial devices” were identified flying above the sites.
The Sun understands the RAF deployed their ORCUS counter drone weapons which can jam the signal to hostile drones and let friendly forces take over controls
The RAF says the ORCUS system – which can fit in the back of a Chinook heliopter – can “detect, track, identify and, if necessary, defeat hostile drones”.
All airbases are continuing to be monitored after the drones were seen overnight and on Tuesday.
The first lot of incidents occurred between November 20 and 22.
The US Air Force, which has fighter jets on standby at the locations, said at the time it was unclear whether the drones were considered hostile.
A spokesperson for US Air Forces, in Europe, last week said: “We can confirm that small unmanned aerial systems (UASs) were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell between November 20 and 22.
“The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size [and] configuration.
“The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure”
The spokesperson added: “To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation.”
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
