The number of drone incidents near military bases in the UK has doubled in the last year, figures obtained by the BBC show. There were 266 recorded events involving drones in 2025, a rise from the 126 reported in 2024. Government sources have said that with some of those incidents they can't rule out hostile state actors. Defence Secretary John Healey said: The doubling of rogue drones near military sites in the UK in the last year underlines the increasing and changing nature of the threats we face. Military personnel do not currently have the legal power to shoot down drones, and instead rely on the police.

British soldiers will be granted new powers to shoot down drones threatening military bases. The plans, to be unveiled by Defence Secretary John Healey in a speech on Monday, are intended to allow troops to take faster, more decisive action. Four British airbases used by US forces reported mystery drone sightings last year, while drones have disrupted airspace across Europe a number of times in recent months. The new powers will only apply to military sites, but could be extended to civilian locations such as airports. 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.

Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? Is Russia testing NATO with aerial incursions in Europe? Unidentified drones have flown over Denmark's military sites, including its biggest base, the latest in a slew of incursions near airports and critical infrastructure this week, which officials have called a "hybrid attack" and hinted at possible Russian involvement. "The Danish Defence can confirm that drones were observed at several of the Danish Defence's locations last night. Several capabilities were deployed," an army spokesperson said on Saturday, without specifying where the drones were observed.

There have been several instances of unidentified drones flying over military bases recently. At least 10 such drones had been seen flying above Manching Air Base near the city of Ingolstadt on Sunday evening, German police said. Last month, there were sightings at Manching and nearby Neuburg an der Donau. Drones were also spotted at the US air base at Ramstein and at an industrial zone near it in the North Sea. In her statement, Interior Minister Faeser said "espionage or sabotage are regularly considered as a possible reason".

Japan will ban the flying of drones over 15 U.S. military facilities next month without advance permission as a measure against potential terrorist acts, the Defense Ministry said Friday. The 15 sites include Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and the U.S. Marines' Camp Schwab on Okinawa. The restrictions, based on a law enacted last year, will be implemented on Sept. 6 following a notice period but have triggered concerns from media organizations over the potential disruption to news-gathering activities. Drone pilots will be barred from flying within 300 meters of the boundary of the designated sites, including the Henoko coastal district in Nago, Okinawa, near Camp Schwab where landfill work is underway to replace the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma despite local opposition. Police and the Self-Defense Forces are permitted to seize or destroy drones if they are flown near the designated zones without permission, and violators face up to a year in prison or a maximum fine of ¥500,000 ($4,700).