Foreign Drones Escalate Surveillance Over UK Military and Nuclear Sites

Illegal incursions by foreign drones over UK nuclear power stations and military bases are occurring at a rate of nearly three per week, amid heightened tensions with Russia. Since January, the number of drone sightings over critical infrastructure and sensitive security sites has already surpassed the total for the previous two years combined.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) reported 100 such sightings over nuclear facilities or related objects, such as submarines, between January and August of the current year. This contrasts with 69 incidents in all of 2025 and 47 in 2024, a significant increase from the 18 recorded in 2020.

Security experts suggest Russia is the most likely perpetrator, potentially seeking intelligence for an attack on the UK or NATO. China and Iran are also considered possible actors aiming to assess the UK's defense capabilities.

These incursions follow a earlier report detailing Russian surveillance of Britain's nuclear weapons. Drones were observed over Lakenheath, Mildenhall, RAF Fairford, and RAF Feltwell bases over four days in 2024, reportedly launched from a Russian spy ship off the coast of Humberside. The incident prompted the deployment of specialist British troops to intercept the drones.

Professor Anthony Glees, a security expert at the University of Buckingham, indicated that in addition to ship-launched drones, there is suspicion that Russia and Iran may be employing human agents, potentially including paid British nationals, to operate these devices.

The nuclear-specific incidents are part of a broader trend, with 340 security incidents involving drones at or near Ministry of Defence sites in the UK recorded up to August 2026. However, the MOD has declined to release specific numbers for different site types or locations, citing national security risks.

Charlie Edwards, a security expert at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), noted that Russia has repeatedly penetrated NATO airspace, including over nuclear sites, without triggering a unified allied response, identifying this as a strategic vulnerability.

The UK government has acknowledged the regrettable nature of Russian participation in G20 meetings and stated that representation is a matter for member states. Security experts have warned of potential Russian retaliation for the UK's support of Ukraine.

In response to the escalating threat, the MOD is investing £790 million to enhance protection against drone and missile threats. New restricted airspace areas have been established over 44 critical defence sites, with plans to extend this to over 160 additional sites in the autumn. Experts have called for decisive action, such as the destruction of Russian ships involved in drone operations over sensitive sites and the implementation of anti-drone measures like nets and electronic jamming.