USAF Confirms Drone Incursions Over UK Bases Spanning Five Consecutive Days Amid Further Reports of Activity
Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash
Written by Christopher Sharp - 25 November 2024
The United States Air Force (USAF) has confirmed to Liberation Times that ‘small unmanned aerial systems’ were observed above three of its UK bases in the East of England over a continuous five-day period.
In comments, which have now been officially published, a USAF spokesperson told Liberation Times:
‘Small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell between Nov. 20 and Nov. 24.
‘The number of systems fluctuated, and they ranged in sizes and configurations. The sUASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities or assets.’
On Facebook, Colonel Jack R. Arthaud the commander of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath posted:
‘You are most likely aware that we have experienced several sUAS or small drone sightings across the tri-base area since 20 Nov. They are being actively monitored and have not impacted base residents or infrastructure.
‘If you see anything suspicious, to include sUAS's or drone activity within the tri-base area, please contact either local police or Security Forces. The Liberty Wing is taking all appropriate measures to safeguard RAF Lakenheath, RAF Feltwell and residents.’
Specific details about the drone activities on Saturday 23 November, and Sunday 24 November, are not yet known. However, with wind speeds reaching up to 65 miles per hour in the area over the weekend, operating drones in such conditions would likely have been challenging.
This evening, plane spotters monitoring USAF activities from the affected bases reported ongoing drone incursions and observed Air Force assets deploying apparent countermeasures.
One YouTuber filming from outside RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk stated that he could see lights of apparent drones “skimming the tops of trees” near the base and that F15s had taken off and were going “round and round above us”.
The streamer, whose YouTube channel is named ‘Liberty Wing UK’, witnessed the F15s take off, said “they weren’t hanging around, full afterburner all the way up.”
The streamer appeared to have captured a radio conversation from the base, where one USAF officer can be heard saying:
“We’ve got multiple reports of UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] taking off from fields to the north and south”
Later on, the streamer added:
“I've had this information that it's some sort of test. But I just can't think it is because what I've been told by the base as well.
“They didn’t want me to stream to start with. If it was just an exercise I would have thought they wouldn’t bother saying anything to me.
“But they came over to me and spoke to me and, on purpose, asked me what I was doing. And they've been going around the perimeter, looking at people's cars and stuff as well. To me, I don’t think they would be bothered doing stuff like that if it was just an exercise.”
X user Dr. Andrew O'Malley shared a map of the area surrounding the base, highlighting aircraft activity, including a military refuelling plane.
He added:
‘Stratotanker up. That means fighter jets are up too with their transponders off.’
Liberation Times requested comment from the USAF to confirm whether drone incursions were ongoing as of 25 November 2024 - however no official confirmation has been provided.
One Facebook user and local resident named Hardy Lewis Jhardy witnessed what may have been one of the mysterious drones in the nearby Valbri Motel in the town of Brandon, Suffolk.
He sent Liberation Times exclusive footage of what appears to be a faint flashing light in the sky, whilst fighter jets can be heard in the background.
Jhardy told Liberation Times that the apparent drone appeared to be moving fast towards RAF Lakenheath and was medium in size.
The video was also posted onto Facebook. In response to it, one commenter suggested that it could be a USAF drone, stating:
‘Could be a drone from the base. I saw a drone once inside the Lakenheath base but owned by the military.’
Another commenter agreed, posting:
‘Is nobody considering that they may be security drones scanning for potential threats or sabotage!!’
On a separate Facebook post commenting on the incidents, one former USAF officer speculated that the apparent drones could belong to an adversary power, writing:
‘I hope the installation security posture is reflecting the threat? Drones will test security, gauge response times, identify vulnerabilities, and distract from another higher priority mission. A Drone swarm could overwhelm security forces in short order.
‘Too many incidents not to be coordinated. Stateside, overseas, getting probed. Very reminiscent of the bad old days, when we had humans poking around.’
The activity affecting the USAF-operated bases took place after the UK and U.S. governments approved the Ukrainian military's use of long-range missiles to strike targets within Russian territory.
So far, neither the UK nor U.S. governments have identified the operators of the apparent drones or specified the types of drones involved, despite their repeated launches on consecutive nights.
A resident of the nearby town of Brandon expressed his frustrations on Facebook, writing:
‘So Lakenheath, Mildenhall & Feltwell RAF American bases, have all had mystery drones flying around them. I have to ask, why were the drones not quickly shot down.’
Another wrote:
‘Little worrying.’
Meanwhile, Brandon’s Town Council told Liberation Times:
‘Our Town Clerk has informed me that we have received no official reports from any of the bases but the Squadron Leader does have a regular report at Full Council, so if there is anything to report on the matter, we will receive it then.’
With locals left concerned about the situation, a spokesperson from the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) commented to Liberation Times:
“We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites. This includes counter drone security capabilities.
“We won’t comment further on security procedures.”
The incursions over the U.S. bases follows other drones incidents reported by Liberation Times above Langley Air Force in December 2023, where logs show that dronebusters used by security forces failed to intercept the objects.
In January this year, it was reported that the U.S. military was set to deploy nuclear weapons at RAF Lakenheath.
In March 2023, a document, external from the U.S. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense disclosed how $50m had been earmarked to build a facility known as a ‘Surety Dormitory’ at the base.
The phrase is understood to refer to nuclear weapons storage, external.
Note: Liberation Times has reached out to Suffolk Constabulary for comment on the local police response to the incidents but has not received a reply.