US military personnel at RAF Lakenheath, a major US warplane base in eastern England, were ordered to take shelter on November 13 following reports of unauthorized drone activity above the installation.
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The incident occurred amid heightened security measures at US military installations across Britain, following reports of potential threats linked to Iran.
According to Sky News On November 13, personnel received an emergency alert titled “REAL WORLD,” ordering them to take shelter in the nearest protected facility and remain there until further notice.
A US Air Force spokesperson confirmed security personnel responded to reports of suspected unauthorized drones near the base. No injuries or damage to aircraft or infrastructure were reported.
The British Ministry of Defense also confirmed that authorities were coordinating their response with US forces.
An armored vehicle patrols the perimeter of RAF Lakenheath in England on April 7, 2026. (Source: Getty Images)
Authorities said the incident had been resolved and efforts to establish the circumstances continued. Local lawmaker Nick Timothy said he contacted the relevant authorities and confirmed there was no threat to the surrounding community.
RAF Lakenheath, located in Suffolk, approximately 70 miles from London, is home to the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, one of the largest US combat aviation formations stationed in Europe.
The wing operates fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters and F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighter jets. Authorities have not publicly identified the drones involved in the Nov. 13 incident or established who was using them.
Previously, three unidentified drones were spotted above a German military installation near recently deployed Arrow-3 missile defense systems. German forces attempted to intercept the drones but were unsuccessful, sparking an investigation into alleged reconnaissance activities.
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