Russia "Highly Likely" Behind Drone Incursions Over U.S. Bases In England Report Concludes

Key Points:

• A new report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) suggests that Russian-linked vessels, part of a "shadow fleet," likely launched drone incursions over U.S. bases in England and other parts of Europe starting in August 2024, marking a Kremlin UAV campaign in the region.
• The report highlights the use of Russian Orlan-10 drones, known for their range, endurance, and electronic warfare capabilities, but also notes the possibility of commercially modified drones being used to maintain deniability.
• Despite circumstantial evidence and open-source data linking these incursions to Russian operations, no European government has publicly confirmed specific vessels or operators involved, and official investigations, including by the UK Ministry of Defence, have not identified suspects.
• The UK Ministry of Defence and U.S. Air Forces in Europe acknowledge drone activity over military bases but emphasize no impact on operations and maintain operational security by withholding detailed intelligence information.
• Drone incursions at military installations are a broader issue globally, with similar unexplained incidents reported in the U.S., but the IISS report specifically attributes the European incidents to Russian actions as part of an unconventional warfare strategy.