- Ministry of Defence figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal that rogue drone incidents at or near UK military bases rose to 340 in the year to August 2026, up from 250 in 2025 and 126 in 2024.
- Defence experts and former Conservative defence minister Tobias Ellwood warned that the UK is unprepared for these escalating threats, attributing many of the drone intrusions to hostile actors operating on behalf of Russia and Iran.
- The stark increase coincides with warnings from Polish prime minister Donald Tusk that Moscow is preparing hybrid drone or missile strikes against Nato nations aiding Ukraine, as UK defence chiefs caution that Russian threats have reached Cold War levels.
- The Ministry of Defence stated that the rising numbers partly reflect enhanced counter-drone detection technology, better reporting procedures, and increased vigilance among military personnel across sites.
- Armed Forces minister Louise Sandher-Jones highlighted government action, including expanding restricted airspace to over 200 defence sites, quadrupling counter-drone spending, and passing legislation enabling military personnel to take down hostile drones directly.
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