Sixty British Troops Investigate Drone Activity Over US Airbases

[Social Media]

 

Sixty British troops have been deployed to investigate the presence of drones spotted over three US airbases in Suffolk and Norfolk, raising concerns about potential security threats. The sightings, described by some as potentially “sinister,” have prompted swift action by UK and US forces to identify those responsible.  

 

The drones were first observed last week near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell, which are operated by the US Air Force (USAF). Although the activity has not been identified as hostile, the fluctuating number of sightings has alarmed officials. A defence source told *The Times* that approximately 60 UK military personnel have been mobilized to assist the US.  

 

The Royal Air Force has offered its advanced counter-drone system, known as ORCUS, to help neutralize the threat. This system integrates two key components: the “Ninja,” which identifies drones up to 7 kilometers away and can assume control of their command systems, and the “Guardian,” a long-range jammer dubbed an “electronic sniper rifle” capable of disrupting drones from up to 10 kilometers. Together, these systems can either redirect hostile drones to specific locations or return them to their base, preserving the devices for further investigation and reconnaissance.  

 

The ORCUS system has been previously deployed at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, suggesting its effectiveness in protecting installations hosting US personnel. Despite the deployment of this technology, the identity of those operating the drones remains unknown.

 

A military source speculated that the activity could be linked to individuals acting on behalf of external entities, hinting at the possibility of a deliberate plot. While no direct accusations have been made, the source suggested it could range from a “bunch of f—wits” to a more “sinister” operation involving paid actors.  

 

This suspicion aligns with heightened concerns across Europe about Russian sabotage. Security agencies have reported acts of arson and infrastructure attacks in the Baltics, Germany, and the UK. In October, MI5 Director Ken McCallum warned that Russia’s intelligence agency, the GRU, had been orchestrating “sustained mayhem” across Europe, including arson and sabotage, following Britain’s support for Ukraine in the ongoing war.

 

In a statement, the USAF confirmed that drone sightings occurred during nighttime hours and varied between the bases but emphasized that they posed no immediate threat to infrastructure or residents. “Since November 20, there has been no impact to residents or infrastructure, and they have not been identified as hostile,” a spokesperson said, adding that the airspace continues to be monitored.  

 

The UK Ministry of Defence also reassured the public of its vigilance. “We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites. We are supporting the US Air Force response,” an MoD spokesperson stated.  

 

As investigations continue, the collaboration between UK and US forces highlights the importance of maintaining security at critical installations, particularly amid growing concerns about potential acts of foreign interference.

 

Based on a report by The Times 2024-11-28

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

The question I have is why, given WW2 ended last century is why there are 3 US bases in Britain? What do they do that the Brits can't do?

[newbee2022]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The question I have is why, given WW2 ended last century is why there are 3 US bases in Britain? What do they do that the Brits can't do?

A hegemon wants to control his pigs. Easy to understand. There a dozens of US bases in Europe. It's time for Europe to stand up to make peace with Russia, not following the warmongering US. Start trading again with Russia, continue with China and don't follow US doctrines. (Hungary is a good example how to do)

[transam]

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

A hegemon wants to control his pigs. Easy to understand. There a dozens of US bases in Europe. It's time for Europe to stand up to make peace with Russia, not following the warmongering US. Start trading again with Russia, continue with China and don't follow US doctrines. (Hungary is a good example how to do)

Blimey, another Commie onboard, how disappointing...............🤔

[Jaggg88]

4 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

A hegemon wants to control his pigs. Easy to understand. There a dozens of US bases in Europe. It's time for Europe to stand up to make peace with Russia, not following the warmongering US. Start trading again with Russia, continue with China and don't follow US doctrines. (Hungary is a good example how to do)

I think you will find that Europe tried that with Russia and then Russia invaded the Ukraine

[newbee2022]

8 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

I think you will find that Europe tried that with Russia and then Russia invaded the Ukraine

Well, but why they did it???

Because the hegemon wants to confront Russia by extending (planned) Nato up to the Russian border!

[novacova]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

growing concerns about potential acts of foreign interference

Chinese hacking their way into the United States 

[Jaggg88]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, but why they did it???

Because the hegemon wants to confront Russia by extending (planned) Nato up to the Russian border!

In 2007 USA suggested Ukraine join NATO but Germany and France vetoed the proposal so they could complete lucrative trade deals with Russia. Now, that worked well! Germany has now increased its defence spending due to Russia's expansionist policy. First into Crimea and now Ukraine. Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine so how has that helped Russia? Has NATO ever threatened a sovereign nation? of course not, you are talking utter nonsense.

[newbee2022]

11 hours ago, Jaggg88 said:

In 2007 USA suggested Ukraine join NATO but Germany and France vetoed the proposal so they could complete lucrative trade deals with Russia. Now, that worked well! Germany has now increased its defence spending due to Russia's expansionist policy. First into Crimea and now Ukraine. Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine so how has that helped Russia? Has NATO ever threatened a sovereign nation? of course not, you are talking utter nonsense.

Well, as a NATO and hegemon follower you have to say this (nonsense). US had overthrown the Ukrainian government to extend their influence up to the Russian border. That is not a threat? (Remember the Cuba crisis) 

Please don't reply with any moronian comment.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Jaggg88 said:

I think you will find that Europe tried that with Russia and then Russia invaded the Ukraine

Complain to NATO then.

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, Jaggg88 said:

In 2007 USA suggested Ukraine join NATO but Germany and France vetoed the proposal so they could complete lucrative trade deals with Russia. Now, that worked well! Germany has now increased its defence spending due to Russia's expansionist policy. First into Crimea and now Ukraine. Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine so how has that helped Russia? Has NATO ever threatened a sovereign nation? of course not, you are talking utter nonsense.

NATO in Ukraine is obviously a larger threat than NATO in Finland. It has a far longer land border.

Never underestimate the desire of generals to add medals to their collection, and if a few thousand have to die for it, well that was their hard luck.

[saintdomingo]

14 hours ago, Jaggg88 said:

In 2007 USA suggested Ukraine join NATO but Germany and France vetoed the proposal so they could complete lucrative trade deals with Russia. Now, that worked well! Germany has now increased its defence spending due to Russia's expansionist policy. First into Crimea and now Ukraine. Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine so how has that helped Russia? Has NATO ever threatened a sovereign nation? of course not, you are talking utter nonsense.

newbee2022 is just another lefty, knows it all.

Edited Friday at 04:14 AM by saintdomingo

[Jonathan Swift]

On 11/28/2024 at 5:10 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

The question I have is why, given WW2 ended last century is why there are 3 US bases in Britain? What do they do that the Brits can't do?

I could explain it for you, but I can't understand it for you. Ever hear of NATO? Alliances? Partnerships? Mutual training exercises? Do the Brits have F22s, F35s? B52s? B1Bs? If they do who trains them?

[Fortean1]

I worked a NATO/OTAN communications center in Naples, Italy from 1977 to 1980.  Our war games focused on defeating Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces.  Two likely invasion points were the Ruhr Valley in Germany and the Po River Valley in northern Italy.  One of our customers in the peacetime alliance was the French Military Mission.  The French were active in the military arm of NATO, not the economic and political arms.  Our facility was in downtown Naples; however, war games were conducting using the facility at PROTO.  This inside a mountain complex was northeast of Naples.  It had blast doors and a fully contained environment.  War games were in November.  Olivetti teletypes clattered away and the message center processed hundreds of messages daily.  The teletypes slowly went quiet the last two days.  The U.S. and Allies had used tactical nukes on those Soviet tank armies.

Edited Friday at 05:55 AM by Fortean1
tipos

[gargamon]

5 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, as a NATO and hegemon follower you have to say this (nonsense). US had overthrown the Ukrainian government to extend their influence up to the Russian border. That is not a threat? (Remember the Cuba crisis) 

Please don't reply with any moronian comment.

Most of the moronic comments in this thread are yours.

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, saintdomingo said:

newbee2022 is just another lefty, knows it all.

Well, I'm not Trump's friend, if you mean this, and not a EU bootlicker, if you mean that.

But I opt for an EU which keeps tight bonds with China and on a long run with Russia and a more distant relation with US. And I'm against a expanded Nato or any other treat to neighboring countries, incl. Russia. EU is very close to Russian culture over 100s of years, even before America appeared on the maps.

[transam]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, I'm not Trump's friend, if you mean this, and not a EU bootlicker, if you mean that.

But I opt for an EU which keeps tight bonds with China and on a long run with Russia and a more distant relation with US. And I'm against a expanded Nato or any other treat to neighboring countries, incl. Russia. EU is very close to Russian culture over 100s of years, even before America appeared on the maps.

What nationalities is the USA made up of........?  🤭

[G_Money]

So nice to see US bases still in Blighty.  Protecting our closest ally.  250 years ago, not so much.

 I never had the honor of serving in Blighty.  Always a Pacific man.

 

Just like WW2.  Yankee dollars are good for the local economy.

 

Perhaps a little animosity from the local lads.

 

Overpaid, Oversexed and Over-Here most likely holds true today as it did in 1944.

 

For some reason I feel the leftist Poms on the forum don’t appreciate Yankee assistance during WW2 that kept them from speaking German.

 

I’m not feeling the love.

[john donson]

2025, maybe it is time all those bases outside the US should close and save a few hundreds of billions

[john donson]

16 hours ago, G_Money said:

So nice to see US bases still in Blighty.  Protecting our closest ally.  250 years ago, not so much.

 I never had the honor of serving in Blighty.  Always a Pacific man.

 

Just like WW2.  Yankee dollars are good for the local economy.

 

Perhaps a little animosity from the local lads.

 

Overpaid, Oversexed and Over-Here most likely holds true today as it did in 1944.

 

For some reason I feel the leftist Poms on the forum don’t appreciate Yankee assistance during WW2 that kept them from speaking German.

 

I’m not feeling the love.

 

the idea of that 'influencer' of the time was to have one big europe...

 

now it is full of old politician leftovers that nobody elected collecting 10-20k euro per month for not even showing up plus their nepotistic helps...

 

so german, no problem, is one of the languages I speak... not my first

 

would sure have kept out muslim invasion that europe is 'victim' off

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

20 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

I could explain it for you, but I can't understand it for you. Ever hear of NATO? Alliances? Partnerships? Mutual training exercises? Do the Brits have F22s, F35s? B52s? B1Bs? If they do who trains them?

How many military bases do the Brits have in the US? The Brits are entirely capable of training their own pilots, and they don't have B52s or B1Bs.

 

Next.

[G_Money]

1 hour ago, john donson said:

2025, maybe it is time all those bases outside the US should close and save a few hundreds of billions

Highly doubtful that will happen.

 

Who will protect Europe?  The French?  LOL 

[transam]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

How many military bases do the Brits have in the US? The Brits are entirely capable of training their own pilots, and they don't have B52s or B1Bs.

 

Next.

Oh dear, you are in fear of your leader being taken out........😂

But don't worry, there has been USA planes in the UK probably since 1939, my dad worked on them......🤭

[Fortean1]

My Uncles Gerald and Russell were in the UK in 1944.  My Dad went to the Pacific.  Allies get training at many bases in the U.S.  Pilots from Europe train especially at bases in Arizona.  NATO was defense oriented until Putin invaded Ukraine and thought Cold War 2 was a good idea.  China not so much.  Iran and North Korea are the wild cards who seek profit over any political beliefs.

Edited 19 hours ago by Fortean1
tipos

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/29/2024 at 6:54 PM, Fortean1 said:

The U.S. and Allies had used tactical nukes on those Soviet tank armies.

and visa versa. I knew a guy that served in BAOR, and he claimed the allied tank forces would be eliminated in the first 15 minutes in the event of a real war with the Soviets.

[Fortean1]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The US has US bases in the UK. How many UK bases in the US?

 

NATO wasn't much till Biden decided to have a proxy war in Ukraine.

The Euro members didn't even pay their share till Trump made them.

As the world's policeman the U.S. has those bases for reasons, whether good to bad, is the necessary evil.  I served in Naples, Italy from 1977 to 1980 during an intense phase of the Cold War.  I suppose we were lulled into thinking that Putin would focus on making money for himself and his cronies.  Alas, he wants to make Russia great again.  I agree that some NATO countries spent less than the 2% required at the founding of NATO.  The UK has allowed its military to wither away.  Germany even more so.

[lordgrinz]

I still don't understand why we don't have counter-attack systems for this, a swarm of attack drones that kamikaze into these things, thus removing them as a threat. I would think it would be simple to create these attack drones, using onboard camera systems to obtain a lock, then attack and kill. Could be setup and ready to go at a moments notice, and they could work as a group, overwhelming any drone that comes within targeting range.

[Fortean1]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and visa versa. I knew a guy that served in BAOR, and he claimed the allied tank forces would be eliminated in the first 15 minutes in the event of a real war with the Soviets.

I agree that the power of those Soviet/Warsaw Pact tank armies was hyped.  Repair of tanks needed strong trees to pulley out tracks and engines.  That and our conventional weapons, esp. air power, would make a sizeable dent.  Of course in the NATO war games after our use of tactical nukes the Soviet/Warsaw Pact forces said "Meh" and beat feet for their home countries.  I think not.  There is a book that sensationally shows an attack on NATO in the 1980s that succeeded in bringing much of Europe to their knees.  It is The Third World War, The Untold Story by General Sir John Hackett.  I read it during our tour of duty in Panama 1981-84.  I was impressed.  Last year during our visit to the U.S. I found this book in my son Jeremy's library.  I began reading it again and made it to page 264.  It was lots of speculation and of course did not account for the rot of the Soviet war machine since the fall of the Soviet empire in 1990.  Also, those Warsaw Pact forces would not be all that reliable.

Edited 2 hours ago by Fortean1
tipos and grammar

[norfolkandchance]

On 11/29/2024 at 5:54 AM, Fortean1 said:

I worked a NATO/OTAN communications center in Naples, Italy from 1977 to 1980.  Our war games focused on defeating Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces.  Two likely invasion points were the Ruhr Valley in Germany and the Po River Valley in northern Italy.  One of our customers in the peacetime alliance was the French Military Mission.  The French were active in the military arm of NATO, not the economic and political arms.  Our facility was in downtown Naples; however, war games were conducting using the facility at PROTO.  This inside a mountain complex was northeast of Naples.  It had blast doors and a fully contained environment.  War games were in November.  Olivetti teletypes clattered away and the message center processed hundreds of messages daily.  The teletypes slowly went quiet the last two days.  The U.S. and Allies had used tactical nukes on those Soviet tank armies.

I was at JOC Maarstricht the same time. Endex,Down the pub.

[norfolkandchance]

18 hours ago, Fortean1 said:

My Uncles Gerald and Russell were in the UK in 1944.  My Dad went to the Pacific.  Allies get training at many bases in the U.S.  Pilots from Europe train especially at bases in Arizona.  NATO was defense oriented until Putin invaded Ukraine and thought Cold War 2 was a good idea.  China not so much.  Iran and North Korea are the wild cards who seek profit over any political beliefs.

Red Flag. Nellis.