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British troops will be given new powers to shoot down drones that threaten British military bases, the Telegraph reports.
Defense Minister John Healy They are expected to give their views on how to secure Britain’s most important military bases in response to the growing threat Russia On Monday.
The Telegraph cited a source as saying that although the new powers would initially apply only to military sites, the British government “is not ruling out extending those powers” to other critical sites such as airports.
Currently, troops can use specialist counter-drone equipment, which can track incoming drones, hijack signals and divert them.
The Telegraph said the new proposal would give soldiers or the Ministry of Defense the “kinetic option” to shoot them on site, which they can now only do in extreme circumstances.
Healey’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Britain’s Defense Ministry could not be immediately contacted.
Earlier in October, Britain said it would have two Royal Air Force planes fly a 12-hour mission with US and NATO forces to patrol the border with Russia, saying the operation followed intrusions into the airspace of NATO countries including Poland, Romania and Estonia.
Drones have increasingly disrupted airspace across Europe in recent days, raising concerns over repeated incursions by driverless aerial vehicles, causing airport closures and flight cancellations.
However, fingers have been pointed at Russia as tensions rise with the West over the war in Ukraine moscow Involvement has been denied.
At least 18 suspicious drones have been spotted by surveillance service Enigma in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany since September 16, although not all around airports.