Criminal probe launched after US Air Force spots drones over UK bases

LONDON — A criminal investigation has been launched after the U.S. Air Force reported that drones were spotted flying over English military bases, a British official said Wednesday.

The U.S. Air Force reported several incursions occurred in the past week at four bases where the American forces operate. The drones were monitored and unspecified mitigation measures were underway.

Ministry of Defense Police and local authorities are investigating the activity alongside U.S. forces, Defense Minister Vernon Coaker said in Parliament.

“We take any safety issue seriously and maintain robust measures at Ministry of Defense sites,” Coaker said. “This includes counter-drone capabilities.”

Anyone convicted could face up to 14 years in prison under national security laws, Coaker said.

Though it is unclear whether the drones had a hostile intent, the incidents come at a time that saw the most significant escalation of hostilities in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

Ukraine struck targets inside Russia with intermediate-range missiles supplied by the U.S. and Britain after President Joe Biden authorized use of the weapons. Soon after, President Vladimir Putin said his country had the right to strike nations that allow their weapons to be used against Russia.

The flights, which began Nov. 20 and included several incursions Tuesday, were spotted over or near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell in eastern England, as well as RAF Fairford in southwestern England.

Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which the U.S. Air Force describes as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe. Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and Feltwell is a hub for housing, schools and other services. Fairford is home to the 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron.

Coaker said a drone was also sited Friday flying about 250 meters from the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it entered the German port of Hamburg.

伦敦——一名英国官员周三表示，美国空军报告称发现无人机飞越英国军事基地后，英国已展开刑事调查。

美国空军报告称，过去一周内，美军驻扎的四个基地发生多起无人机入侵事件。这些无人机已被监控，目前正在采取一些未公开的应对措施。

国防部长弗农·科克在议会表示，国防部警察和地方当局正在与美军一起调查这一活动。

科克尔表示：“我们严肃对待任何安全问题，并在国防部各处采取强有力的安全措施，包括反无人机能力。”

科克表示，根据国家安全法，任何被定罪的人都可能面临最高 14 年的监禁。

虽然尚不清楚这些无人机是否具有敌对意图，但这些事件发生之际，乌克兰的敌对行动正处于自近三年前俄罗斯全面入侵以来最严重的升级阶段。

在美国总统拜登授权使用美国和英国提供的中程导弹后，乌克兰对俄罗斯境内的目标进行了打击。不久之后，俄罗斯总统普京表示，俄罗斯有权打击允许其武器被用于攻击俄罗斯的国家。

这些飞行活动从 11 月 20 日开始，包括周二的几次入侵，被发现在英格兰东部的莱肯希思皇家空军基地、米尔登霍尔皇家空军基地和费尔特韦尔皇家空军基地以及英格兰西南部的费尔福德皇家空军基地上空或附近。

莱肯希思是美国空军第48战斗机联队的驻地，该联队被美国空军誉为欧洲作战能力的基石。米尔登霍尔是美国空军第100空中加油联队的驻地，费尔特韦尔则是住房、学校和其他服务的中心。费尔福德是美国空军第501战斗支援联队司令部和第420空军基地中队的驻地。

科克尔表示，周五，一架无人机在皇家海军旗舰航空母舰“伊丽莎白女王”号进入德国汉堡港时，在距离该舰约 250 米处飞行。