U.S. Air Force personnel responded to “suspected unauthorized drone activity” at RAF Lakenheath in eastern England on Friday evening. It is the latest in a string of security scares at American bases in Britain.
A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected.
“We continue to work closely with our host nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, U.S. and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families,” the spokesperson said.
A U.S. European Command spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, said the military is taking “all measures” to keep base installations, aircraft and service members safe. The British Ministry of Defense was not immediately available for comment.
With Friday’s incident, three U.S. bases in the United Kingdom have faced threats in recent weeks, at a time of rising concern over Iran.
The U.S. recently moved bombers that had been used to strike Iran out of RAF Fairford for security reasons. That followed an incident on Sept. 27, when a group of men in white vans approached the base in the middle of the night. Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced charges against three men it called “Iranian operatives” over an alleged terror plot aimed at Fairford. The department also said a member of an Iran-backed militia had plotted to attack the base while he was held in the U.S. on criminal charges.
Separately, the U.S. moved huge refueling aircraft from Britain to Germany, and The Wall Street Journal reported that the move was because of a threat from Iran. During that exodus, RAF Mildenhall raised its alert level to FPCON Charlie, the second-highest level. That level is used when an incident occurs or intelligence suggests a terrorist attack on personnel or facilities is likely. A U.S. official said at the time that moving the aircraft was a proactive step, not a reaction to an attack.
Also this week, a U.S. Army officer assigned to a NATO unit at a base near Gloucester, England, was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. Police said the arrest was not related to other counterterrorism investigations, which suggests there is no connection to the Fairford plot.
Lakenheath is in Suffolk and is among the bases considered critical to U.S. military operations in Europe.
This is not the first time drones have shown up over the base. In November 2024, unidentified drones were reported over Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell for several days. A U.S. official said then that the activity appeared coordinated and not the work of hobbyists. British troops, including counter-drone specialists, were sent to help defend the bases. Officials never publicly said who was behind those flights.
For American service members and their families in Britain, the latest scare is another reminder that the threats facing U.S. forces abroad are not confined to the battlefield.
