Mysterious drones over US‑stationing RAF base spark security concerns
The portal twz.com reports on mysterious drones that have been sighted over the RAF base in Lakenheath, where the United States Air Force is also stationed. The incident occurred on November 20. This is another such violation in recent months.
7:32 AM EST, November 23, 2024
RAF Lakenheath Base is located 70 miles northeast of London. It is the only fourth and fifth generation fighter wing of the United States Air Force in Europe. The base houses F-35A and F-15E aircraft. The unit has over 4,000 soldiers, as well as more than 1,500 British and American civilians.
Drones over the American base. Incident in the United Kingdom
According to twz.com, on November 20, an incident occurred near the base. Several drones were observed flying around the base and directly over it.
The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size/configuration. The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure - a spokesperson for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE) stated.
Unconfirmed reports have emerged that F-15E Strike Eagle fighters were deployed to pursue the drones. According to these reports, flight operations at the base were disrupted. The Air Force has not commented on this information.
The most concerning fact is that this is not the first such situation. Two days before the incident at Lakenheath, mysterious drones also appeared over Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. Army installation in northern New Jersey. The FBI is investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, last winter, drones reportedly haunted the American base in Langley. Although the drones did not behave aggressively, they posed a threat to the functioning of the unit. It is unknown where the drones originated. Certainly, one hypothesis suggests espionage activity, but sometimes the causes can be simpler than they seem.
