The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed nearly 200 drone sightings near high-security military installations since the beginning of 2025.
According to Defence Minister Lord Coaker, the exact locations and details of security measures will not be disclosed, but the government assures that it takes the protection of its bases and military personnel very seriously, maintaining multi-layered defense systems and specific technologies to identify and neutralize drones.
Previous investigations, based on the Freedom of Information Act, had already revealed dozens of similar incidents between 2021 and 2023 at nuclear power plants, research centers, and sites connected to the British nuclear submarine fleet. In some cases, drones even triggered security alarms and prompted police searches, although without concrete results.
The increasing popularity and accessibility of commercial drones, combined with their growing range and payload capacity, continues to pose a challenge for authorities. Despite efforts to strengthen surveillance and combat unauthorized flights, incidents are multiplying, highlighting the difficulty of protecting strategic infrastructures against simple, inexpensive equipment that could potentially be used for espionage or sabotage.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: Harrison Kugler – Unsplash | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
