British military sites have been hit by a dramatic surge in drone incidents, with hundreds recorded in the space of just a year.
Some 340 security incidents involving drones were recorded at or near Ministry of Defence (MoD) sites in the year to August 2026, figures obtained by The Independent have revealed.
The figure amounts to almost one incident every day and marks a sharp increase in activity around Britain’s military infrastructure.
A total of 250 incidents were recorded throughout 2025, up from just 126 the previous year.
However, the MoD has not identified who was responsible for the incidents.
The figures have prompted warnings over Britain’s ability to protect military bases and other critical infrastructure as security threats across Europe intensify.
Former Conservative Defence Minister and Army veteran Tobias Ellwood said the drone activity showed the British military was viewed “as a target”.
He told The Independent: “In the UK we are doing nothing about protecting our critical national infrastructure, as well as military bases, and it’s such an easy way to disrupt.
Some 340 security incidents involving drones were recorded at or near MoD sites in the year to August (file image)
|
GETTY
“At the moment these are just rogue drones, and they’re passive, but it’s not a huge step to then add a kinetic dimension to them to make them introduce lethality.
“All this points to the fact that we are not taking the rise in threat levels that our European cousins are addressing seriously at all.”
The MoD said Britain and its allies remained alert to potential threats and warned adversaries against aggression.
A spokesman said: “National security is the first duty of Government.
DEFENCE – READ THE LATEST:
The MoD said Britain and its allies remained alert to potential threats and warned adversaries against aggression
|
GETTY“The public should be reassured that the UK and its allies remain vigilant against potential threats and adversaries should be in no doubt about this Government’s resolve to stand against aggression towards the UK and our allies.”
The Government has separately warned that Russia is “constantly probing us and testing us”, while insisting it does not believe Vladimir Putin is seeking a direct confrontation with Nato.
It comes amid a growing political row over Britain’s readiness to respond to the threat posed by Moscow.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of sending a “dangerous message” to the Kremlin after he rejected calls to cut welfare spending to increase Britain’s defence budget.
The Government has separately warned that Russia is ‘constantly probing us and testing us’
|
REUTERSMrs Badenoch told The Telegraph: “Our Government is fiddling while Europe is at risk of burning.”
Earlier this month, Mr Burnham insisted national security “can’t come at the expense of social security” after being challenged over how increased military spending should be funded.
Defence analyst Sean Bell also told GB News: “The harsh reality of life at the moment is that there is a very significant threat.”
The warnings come as Nato members grapple with the threat of hybrid warfare and increasingly hostile rhetoric from Moscow.
The Kremlin has warned that British facilities in Ukraine used to support strikes on Russian territory could be considered “legitimate targets”.
The MoD has not linked Russia, Iran or any other state to the 340 drone incidents recorded at or near British military sites.
Leave a Reply