Latest news with #Lakenheath
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police helicopter in near miss with US fighter jet
A police helicopter reported a near miss with a drone that was in fact a US jet fighter, a report said. The helicopter had been sent to the area around RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, last November following reports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the area. The UK Airprox Board, which investigates near misses, concluded the pilot had misidentified red flashing lights belonging to an F-15 Eagle. The National Police Air Service (NPAS), which operated the helicopter, said there had been no risk of collision. The helicopter crew spotted the lights as they entered Lakenheath's airspace and then headed towards Bury St Edmunds. "Once they started heading in a westerly direction one of the 'drones' appeared to converge with them and fly above and in front of them," the report said. At one point the object appeared to overtake the helicopter. The pilot assessed the risk of collision as "medium". The two aircraft at one point came within 1,900ft (579m) of each other. Investigators highlighted how the crew on board the helicopter had not been told by RAF Lakenheath of the F-15's presence. The fighter pilot knew where the helicopter was but "it may have been particularly beneficial for the situational awareness of the EC135 pilot if the Lakenheath Approach Controller had passed reciprocal traffic information to them". Mystery drones seen over three US air bases in UK EC135 is a reference to the helicopter flown by NPAS, also known as the Eurocopter, though this model is now called the H135. The USAF said the controller's response was compliant with UK law and the F-15 pilot was in visual contact with the helicopter. At the time of the incident, on the evening of 22 November, the airbase had been at the centre of multiple reports of drone sightings. A police incident log from that day recorded how the helicopter had withdrawn from the area "due to a drone coming close to them". The helicopter's traffic collision avoidance system had also not detected the presence of the F-15s, the report noted. Ian Hudson, a drone commentator and analyst, said "This incident underlines serious concerns about lights in the night sky, planets, Starlink and navigation lights being misidentified as drones. "This incident would have officially remained as a drone were it not for the fact UK Airprox Board have collated the facts." The sightings of alleged drones over three airbases in the area at around the time of the incident are still being investigated by the Ministry of Defence Police. NPAS said its crew had been tasked by Suffolk police "to assist in the search for suspected drone activity in the Newmarket area". Ch Supt Vicki White said: "As noted in the report, and in the absence of any contradictory information, the crew acted on the belief that they were observing drone operations. "The crew demonstrated professionalism and sound judgement in identifying a potential hazard." A US Air Force spokesman said: "The USAF complied with UK air traffic control regulations and remained well clear while maintaining normal vertical separation distances. As noted in the report, the air traffic controllers provided the agreed services to pilots of both aircraft to ensure safety of flight operations." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Police helicopter 'near miss' during drone alert Mystery drones seen over three US air bases in UK
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Anti-arms groups plan mass protests over expansion of UK nuclear deterrent
The biggest expansion of the UK's nuclear deterrent in a generation will put the nation on the 'nuclear frontline' and mobilise a new generation of anti-nuclear weapons protesters, campaign groups have warned. Anti-nuclear and anti-arms campaign groups are planning mass protests against nuclear weapons – of a kind not seen since the days of the Greenham Common peace camp in the 80s – in response to government plans to significantly expand its nuclear deterrent by buying a squadron of American fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is planning a protest on Saturday at RAF Lakenheath, which is used by the US air force. The base is undergoing a multimillion-pound upgrade and contains old storage vaults for nuclear weapons, and is seen as a potential site for the storage of US nuclear weapons. Campaign groups said the decision to buy 12 F-35A jets, which are capable of carrying conventional arms and also the US B61-12 gravity bomb, a variant of which has more than three times the explosive power of the weapon dropped on Hiroshima, had been taken without parliamentary debate and undermined democracy. Sophie Bolt, the CND's general secretary, said the decision made the British public 'less safe' with the prospect of US-nuclear arms on UK soil for the first time in a generation. 'This move puts us on the nuclear frontline,' she said. 'It means that there's going to be at least one if not two bases now in Britain that will be stationing US nuclear weapons and US capable jets. That puts us on the frontline and it doesn't offer us any protection.' Kirsten Bayes, of the Campaign Against Arms Trade, said the decision amounted to 'nuclear proliferation by any other name' and said it would cost British taxpayers millions. 'We are looking at an outlay of £700m for these jets, plus the same amount again for their maintenance,' she said. 'When we are being told we have to cut back on the money we give to disabled people, and yet we can find these vast sums for aircraft, that is really hypocritical.' US nuclear weapons have not been stored in the UK since the last one left RAF Lakenheath in 2008. Britain has not had its own air-launched nuclear weapons since 1998, when the WE177 freefall bomb was scrapped by the then Labour government. Announcing the expansion of Britain's nuclear armoury, Keir Starmer said: 'In an era of radical uncertainty, we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security.' Bolt said the government should be prepared for a swell of protest not seen in the UK since the Greenham women's peace camp was established at RAF Greenham and became the biggest female-led protest since women's suffrage. 'Local people are outraged at what's going on, with no consultation at all,' she said. 'They are outraged at the fact that they have no say in this action that puts them at risk.' Lakenheath is likely to become a battleground over the plan to place US nuclear weapons on British soil. In November 2018, the Ministry of Defence awarded a £160m contract to Kier VolkerFitzpatrick to prepare RAF Lakenheath for US F-35 fighter jets. Bolt said protests were also planned at RAF Marham in Norfolk. She added: 'This is being done without any parliamentary debate or vote and completely undermines British democracy. It undermines British sovereignty and of course that impacts Britain's economic priorities.' On Wednesday, the defence secretary, John Healey, denied that the decision to buy the new fleet of fighter jets meant a return to the cold war, and insisted it was 'entirely consistent' with the UK's stated commitment to nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. Britain pledged to pursue nuclear disarmament 'in good faith' under article 6 of the 1970 non-proliferation treaty. Bolot accused Healey of 'double speak', adding: 'How on earth can buying nuclear-capable jets which can carry nuclear bombs help bring about the end of nuclear weapons. It's just total hypocrisy.'
Newsweek
01-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
NATO Ally Looks to Buy US Nuclear-Capable Fighter Jets to Counter Russia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United Kingdom is hoping to purchase American-made fighter jets, capable of both carrying and deploying nuclear weapons, according to a report in The Sunday Times. The British newspaper cited anonymous senior officials familiar with the matter, who said the U.K. intends buying Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning stealth fighter aircraft, but that other options are also being evaluated. The Sunday Times reported that the potential deal was part of the country's broader strategy to address threats posed by Russia, and that the "highly sensitive" talks between the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence have been led by Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, head of the UK's armed forces, and Secretary of State for Defence John Healey. When contacted for comment, the Ministry of Defence directed Newsweek to an interview given by Healey on Sunday morning, in which he said that such discussions "are not conducted in public," but refused to rule out whether the purchase was an option. Why It Matters Combined with other actions taken and statements made by the U.K. government in recent days, including tomorrow's release of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the purchase would signal a significant escalation in Britain's assessment of the threats posed by Russia and the urgency of countering these. Additionally, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recently set out plans to increase the country's defense budget to 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, up from the current 2.3 percent. This follows calls from NATO officials for member states to devote a greater portion of their budget to counter Russian threats, and similar requests from President Donald Trump What To Know According to the U.S. Air Force, the F-35A Lightning possesses a range of more than 1,350 miles and is capable of carrying payloads of up to 18,000 pounds. Variants of the F-35 have already been certified to carry B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs, a type of low-yield nuclear munitions. Having decommissioned its stockpile of tactical, air-delivered nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War, the U.K. has relied on its "Trident" system as a nuclear deterrent. The arsenal is exclusively capable of being deployed by four Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines. A U.S. Air Force fifth generation F-35A Lightning II stealth aircraft comes in to land outside RAF Lakenheath on April 17, 2025 in Lakenheath, England. A U.S. Air Force fifth generation F-35A Lightning II stealth aircraft comes in to land outside RAF Lakenheath on April 17, 2025 in Lakenheath, Sunday Times report comes ahead of the release of the government's strategic defence review, which Healey told the BBC would send a "message to Moscow." In a briefing released ahead of the full report, the government said the review would outline a "total commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent," as well as a "NATO-first" defence policy." What People Are Saying Secretary of State for Defence John Healey spoke to Sky News about the reported purchase on Sunday morning, saying: "Those sort of discussions are not conducted in public and certainly not with a running commentary." "I want to make a wider point though on our nuclear deterrent which is this: For nearly 70 years, our U.K. nuclear deterrent has been the guarantor of our U.K. security—it's what Putin fears most," he added. "And the threats we face in the future, mean we will always have to do what we need to defend the country, and strong deterrence is absolutely essential in order to keep Britain and the British people safe." Lord De Mauley, chair of the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee, said in October: "Years of strategic neglect have left our forces stretched thin and limited in size. We are underprepared to respond to the worsening global threat environment, and in particular to meet the very real and growing threat from Russia." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in an article for The Sun published Sunday, said his government was committed to restoring "Britain's war-fighting readiness." He cited the emergence of "new nuclear risks," as well as cyberattacks orchestrated by Russia alongside Iran and North Korea. What Happens Next? The government's Strategic Defence Review 2025 is scheduled for publication on Monday.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dog killed by air rifle wound in Undley near Lakenheath
A dog died after being shot with an air rifle near a public footpath, police incident took place between 16:00 BST and 16:30 in Undley, near Lakenheath, on Police said the animal, a red Hungarian Vizsla, was attacked in the Undley Road have urged anyone with information to get in touch. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
