I’ve to confess to a way of pleasure every time a “drone flap” kicks off in Europe and the RAF known as in to research. It’s a recurring sample: the second they present up, the drones mysteriously vanish. It appears the mere risk of their arrival is sufficient to clear the skies.
Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless a bit miffed that my outdated hang-out from the 80s—63 Squadron—has been transitioned into the RAF Regiment. Seeing the change earns a little bit of a “mutter and grumble” from me.
The story thus far wants a spot to dwell for future reference. I believe it is a pretty complete listing. Do let me know if I missed any.
The RAF Regiment’s function in counter-drone operations is a contemporary extension of its historic mandate to offer low-level air defence for RAF airfields. The core of this functionality lies with 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, which was shaped at RAF Yatesbury on 19 November 1951. The squadron initially offered shut air defence utilizing 40mm Bofors weapons throughout the Suez Canal Disaster and later in Cyprus throughout the EOKA terrorist marketing campaign. In the course of the chilly conflict, it transformed to a light-weight armoured function utilizing Scorpion fight autos earlier than returning to ground-based air defence.
The defining shift within the squadron’s historical past occurred in the summertime of 2022, when 34 Squadron formally re-roled as a devoted counter-uncrewed plane system unit. At present, alongside 63 Squadron RAF Regiment and the 609 Royal Auxiliary Air Pressure Regiment, it kinds the No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Techniques Wing primarily based at RAF Leeming. Working below the International Enablement and Fight Readiness Pressure instructions, the wing is at the moment the one fixed-site counter-drone functionality for UK defence.
The counter-drone arsenal: detect, disrupt, and destroy
The RAF’s counter-drone scheme is constructed upon a layered detect, disrupt, and destroy methodology, designed to protect air operations and shield infrastructure. The tools encompasses a number of extremely built-in applied sciences.
ORCUS: Rising from the Defence Gear and Help’s Undertaking Synergia, ORCUS is the UK navy’s particular configuration of Leonardo’s Falcon Protect. Designed to defeat low, sluggish, and small threats, the modular system fuses 3D multi-mode surveillance radar with radio frequency course discovering. For visible affirmation, it employs the NERIO-ULR gyro-stabilised turret, which options high-definition daytime and thermal cameras to offer constructive identification at excessive ranges.
NINJA: Developed by the US Air Pressure Analysis Laboratory and built-in into ORCUS by Leonardo, NINJA offers a surgical cyber impact. It electronically takes command of a hostile drone by hijacking its radio frequency hyperlinks, permitting RAF operators to securely land the rogue drone for forensic exploitation.
Guardian: Performing as a long-range digital sniper rifle, the Leonardo Guardian system offers a further digital warfare layer by jamming a drone’s command and management or GPS navigation hyperlinks.
Speedy Sentry: When digital soft-kills are inadequate in opposition to autonomous or swarming drones, the RAF depends on Speedy Sentry. This kinetic system fires the Light-weight Multirole Missile manufactured by Thales UK. Able to speeds above Mach 1.5, the laser beam-riding missile can destroy fast-moving aerial threats at ranges exceeding 6km.
Shadow ISTAR: In advanced environments, the ground-based sensors are strengthened by Shadow R1 and R2 reconnaissance plane, which use superior electro-optical and digital intelligence suites from excessive altitude to trace drones again to their operators on the bottom.
Timeline of deployments (2018 to 2026)
The RAF’s counter-drone framework has advanced quickly from home civil-contingency help to a high-readiness expeditionary fight pressure.
December 2018: The RAF deployed an early Leonardo predecessor to the ORCUS system to find drones. Shortly afterwards, the system was deployed to London Heathrow Airport.
June 2021: ORCUS techniques, operated by the RAF Regiment, had been deployed to the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall.
August 2021: The combination of the US NINJA expertise into the ORCUS system was efficiently evaluated on the RAF Spadeadam digital warfare vary in Cumbria.
Summer season 2022: The counter-drone framework was activated as a nationwide standby functionality to observe airspace throughout the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Birmingham Commonwealth Video games.
November 2024: US Air Pressure bases within the UK, particularly RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell. The Fight Readiness Pressure deployed roughly 60 personnel with the ORCUS system. They had been supported by Shadow ISTAR plane from RAF Waddington and US F-15E Strike Eagles.
October 2025: The risk expanded into hybrid warfare in opposition to NATO allies. A specialist crew from No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Techniques Wing deployed to Copenhagen, Denmark, on the Danish authorities’s request, securing two main European summits.
November 2025: An RAF detachment deployed to Belgium to guard delicate websites, together with airports in Brussels and Liege, and navy bases resembling Kleine-Brogel.
February to March 2026: The mission transitioned into lively kinetic fight. Following an Iranian-made Shahed-type drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, the RAF deployed the Speedy Sentry system to the area. On the night time of 23 to 24 March 2026, RAF Regiment gunners executed the best defensive motion up to now in opposition to persistent one-way assault drones. Throughout this era, 4 gunners achieved historic drone ace standing by efficiently capturing down 5 or extra hostile drones.
April 2026: Amidst escalating battle within the Center East, the UK deployed the Speedy Sentry system to Kuwait. The deployment aimed to defend crucial nationwide infrastructure, together with an oil refinery at Mina al-Ahmadi and an important water desalination plant, following deliberate drone and missile strikes by Iran.
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