Criminal investigation into drones at RAF Feltwell

There has been several drone sightings close to RAF Feltwell in Norfolk and RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk over the past week. 

It has since been confirmed that a criminal investigation into the flying of the unmanned aerial vehicles has been launched.

The incidents were discussed in the House of Lords on Wednesday after another drone came within 250 metres of the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. 

Lord Vernon Coaker has warned that those responsible for the spate of recent illegal airborne incursions face up to 14 years in prison under national security laws. 

Speaking in the House of Lords Lord Coakeer said: "The Ministry of Defence is aware of these reports and working closely with the US visiting forces, Home Office police forces and other partners to respond to recent events.

Lord Vernon Coaker in the House of Lords (Image: House of Lords 2023/Roger Harris/PA Wire)

“We will work with civil authorities to prosecute those responsible.

“We take any safety issue seriously and maintain robust measures at Ministry of Defence sites. This includes counter-drone capabilities.

“This remains a live criminal investigation.”

Former military chief Lord Stirrup, who led the armed forces between 2006 and 2010, said: “This is not just a question of defence sites but of much wider national resilience. We have seen the extensive use of drones in Ukraine against non-military targets.

“Can the minister reassure the House that the Government will look at this problem in that much wider context, because quite clearly we can’t mount air defence systems around every single part of our critical national infrastructure.

“We have to ensure we have some other method of protecting them against this new threat.”

In reply, Lord Coaker said there were other ways of protecting sites.

The minister told Parliament: “It is illegal for drones to be flown or within the vicinity of these military sites and people should be aware of that.”