"Healey is set to announce the introduction of a "kinetic option", first reported by the Daily Telegraph, that would enable British troops or Ministry of Defence (MoD) police to shoot drones posing a threat to a military site in the UK. Existing protocol mandates soldiers divert drones or disrupt their GPS signal using counter-drone equipment. Shooting down an unidentified drone is only allowed in extreme circumstances."
"RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, RAF Feltwell in Norfolk and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire all reported drone incursions in November last year. About 60 RAF personnel were sent to assist the US Air Force in its investigation. Neither US nor UK officials have said who might have been behind the drone activity. The airbases have strategic significance for the US military."
Defence Secretary John Healey will unveil plans to grant British soldiers and MoD police a 'kinetic option' to shoot down drones threatening UK military sites. Current protocol requires diversion or GPS disruption with shooting allowed only in extreme cases. Four US-used RAF airbases reported drone incursions in November, prompting a joint investigation with about 60 RAF personnel assisting the US Air Force. Recent European drone sightings have disrupted airspace and triggered an EU leaders' summit that backed a multilayered 'drone wall' to detect, track and destroy Russian drones. Several incidents involved Russian drones and MiG-31 jets entering neighbouring airspaces, which Russia denied or downplayed.
Read at www.bbc.com
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