US Personnel Respond to Suspected Drone Activity at RAF Lakenheath
The U.S. military said its personnel at RAF Lakenheath responded to “suspected unauthorised drone activity” on Friday evening, according to a U.S. Air Force spokesperson quoted by Sky News.
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A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said Security Forces personnel answered a report of suspected unauthorized drone activity over RAF Lakenheath on Friday evening.
“This evening, USAF Security Forces personnel responded to suspected unauthorized drone activity over RAF Lakenheath,” the spokesperson said, according to Deborah Haynes, Sky News’s security and defense editor.
“No personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected.”
The command said it was working with British counterparts to protect U.S. service members, U.S. and host-nation civilians, contractors and families.
“Protecting our shared community is a joint responsibility, and we encourage everyone to support this effort by reporting any unusual or suspicious activity to local authorities.”
Sky News’s official account also said the U.S. Air Force had reported drone activity at the Suffolk base.
Statement Covers Only Lakenheath
The statement referred only to RAF Lakenheath. It did not say whether a drone had been identified, recovered or judged hostile, and it did not mention nearby RAF Mildenhall or RAF Feltwell.
Social media posts on Friday evening reportedly described sirens sounding at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell. Those accounts could not be independently confirmed. Suffolk Police and the U.K. Ministry of Defence had not issued a public statement at the time of writing.
Restrictions Already in Force
Emergency U.K. air-navigation regulations, made at 5:40 p.m. on Nov. 9, already ban unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within five nautical miles of Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell. The restrictions remain in force until they are revoked. Aircraft flying under directions from RAF Lakenheath air traffic control are exempt.
On Nov. 9, the base also urged residents around the “Tri-Base” area to report unauthorized drone activity to Security Forces.
Heightened Alert at Nearby Bases
The same week, U.S. aircraft were moved out of RAF Mildenhall after a reported Iranian threat, and security was raised at Mildenhall and Lakenheath. Officials have not linked Friday’s response to that threat.
Lakenheath, a Royal Air Force station used by the U.S. Air Force, is home to the 48th Fighter Wing and operates F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning II jets.
The United States earlier withdrew B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after a suspected Iran-backed plot.
Earlier Sightings at the Bases
In November 2024, the U.S. Air Force said unidentified small drones had been sighted over Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Feltwell and RAF Fairford. British troops, including counter-drone specialists, were later deployed, and Ministry of Defence police opened an investigation. Officials said then that the aircraft had not been identified as hostile and that residents and infrastructure were not affected.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
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