Case · C-102

Unidentified drones over USAF bases in England (November 2024)

RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall (Suffolk), RAF Feltwell (Norfolk) and RAF Fairford (Gloucestershire) · United Kingdom · Nov 20, 2024 – Nov 26, 2024

In flight Mixed witness types

What happened

Between November 20 and 26, 2024, small drones were reported over and around four British bases used by the U.S. Air Force; a spokesperson for U.S. Air Forces in Europe confirmed those seen between November 20 and 22 at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell, specifying that it was not known whether they were hostile. British military personnel with counter-drone systems worked alongside U.S. personnel to locate the operators, and the British government announced that they would be prosecuted. According to the available sources, operators and intentions remain unknown.

Proposed explanation

According to the U.S. Air Force, they were small unmanned aircraft systems (drones), varying in number, size and configuration; operators and purposes have not been publicly identified. An investigation by the newspaper The i Paper, based on open sources, has hypothesized links to Russian military intelligence, without official confirmation.

Official investigation

US Air Forces in Europe; British Ministry of Defence and police forces

Sources

1. The Guardian, “Unidentified drones spotted over three UK airbases, US air force confirms” (November 23, 2024) (press)
2. BBC News, “Mystery drones seen over three US air bases in East Anglia” (November 23, 2024) (press)
3. Wikipedia (en) – 2024 US air base drone incursions in the United Kingdom (other)

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