Air Force
RAF Lakenheath: US Air Force security forces respond to suspected unauthorised drones over the base
USAFE says its security forces responded to suspected unauthorised drone activity over RAF Lakenheath in eastern England on the evening of November 13. No personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected.
US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) announced that its Security Forces responded to suspected, unauthorised drone activity over RAF Lakenheath in eastern England on the evening of Friday, November 13. “No personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected,” the American side said in a statement to The War Zone. US officials declined to say who might have been operating the drones or whether the security level at the base was raised.
“We continue to work closely with our host-nation counterparts on the security of US service members, American and British civilians, contractors and all our families,” the statement added. The US Air Force urged local residents to report any unusual or suspicious activity to local authorities, noting that protecting the community is a shared responsibility. Earlier, sirens were heard around the base, and videos of the sound circulated on social media. Unconfirmed reports spoke of an order for personnel to stay in protected areas.
The British Ministry of Defence said it is coordinating with all parties on the reports of unauthorised drones at Lakenheath. “USAF Security Forces personnel responded to the reports and the situation has now been resolved,” a spokesperson said, adding that the British are working with the Americans to establish the facts. West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy said base authorities assured him that “there is no threat to the public and the incident has ended.” He also called on the Ministry of Defence and the US Air Force to keep people informed as freely as operational-security restrictions allow.
The largest US fighter base in Europe
Lakenheath, in Suffolk, hosts the 48th Fighter Wing, known as the “Liberty Wing,” with F-15E Strike Eagle and F-35A Lightning II fighters. With nearly 7,000 active-duty personnel, it is the largest US Air Force fighter unit in Europe.
The incident comes a few days after the United States moved tanker aircraft away from the neighbouring base at RAF Mildenhall because of a threat, a move a US official described as precautionary and not a reaction to a specific incident. At least 12 US Air Force aircraft left Mildenhall, among them KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft heading to Germany and to Prestwick airport near Glasgow. Mildenhall then raised its Force Protection Condition (FPCON) to Charlie, the second highest, which applies when there is information that a terrorist action against personnel or facilities is likely.
With Friday’s incident, three US bases in the United Kingdom have been affected by threats in recent weeks. Earlier this year British police investigated an alleged terrorist plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where searches of a van found petrol but no explosives. Two men have been charged in the case. London insists that British air bases are safe and that protecting them is a “top priority.”
