RAF Deploys Drones to Monitor Russian Naval Activity Near UK Shores
The Royal Air Force is utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance of Russian warships, a move prompted by concerns over potential Russian drone attacks on critical infrastructure.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has begun using drones for the first time to monitor Russian naval activity in waters surrounding British shores, it was revealed last night. This development comes amid warnings from military experts that Russian vessels could potentially deploy their own remote-controlled aircraft for coordinated attacks on the United Kingdom.
Within the past month, an unarmed British Protector RG1 drone conducted a mission over the English Channel, providing over ten hours of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. This flight occurred alongside Royal Navy warships and helicopters as they tracked a Russian warship. The Ministry of Defence stated that anti-Russian monitoring by the Royal Navy has increased by 25 percent in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2025.
Russian vessels have been observed monitoring the UK's vital underwater cables, prompting the Ministry of Defence to allocate an additional £330 million over four years. These funds are intended to enhance seabed monitoring and surveillance capabilities and to develop advanced anti-submarine warfare technologies.
A senior military commander expressed concern that a Russian drone incursion could be launched within minutes from a ship positioned off the UK coast, potentially targeting infrastructure across the country. "We need a greater readiness capability and that needs funding, putting more money into defence now, not tomorrow," the source said. "We need more aircraft in the air and ships at sea – it doesn't matter how small the ships are, they simply needed to monitor vessels. Surveillance is paramount in stopping any incursion by the Russians."
Moscow has previously deployed drones in Poland, Moldova, Lithuania, Norway, and Denmark. Intelligence officials are warning that the UK could be the next target as Russia continues to seek retribution for Britain's support of Ukraine.
One effective countermeasure against drones is a Wildcat helicopter equipped with machine guns, capable of quickly neutralizing a swarm of drones. However, experts emphasize the need for an early warning system.
Tim Ripley, a senior analyst at Defence Eye, stated, "The military has many useful capabilities to counter small drones but what it needs is a warning system to allow defences to be activated in the right places. That can only come with more air and maritime patrols to monitor vessels off our coast that may turn off their AIS [automatic identification system] tracking to avoid radar. Any ship could launch a drone swarm and we need a contingency plan to identify suspects, at which point we can alert aviation and ground countermeasures to respond."
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting commented, "For the first time, Protector has joined Royal Navy warships and helicopters monitoring activity around our shores, demonstrating how we are constantly innovating to monitor and deter threats and irresponsible provocation."
