UK defence sites had 340 drone incidents, media says

British defence sites recorded 340 security incidents involving drones over or near them in the 12 months to August 2026, The Independent reported Saturday.

The newspaper said the figure compared with 250 incidents in 2025 and 126 the previous year. Britain's defence ministry did not disclose who was behind the drone activity.

Armed forces minister Louise Sandher-Jones said the government was taking the threat from hostile drones to defence sites extremely seriously. She said the increase partly reflected improved monitoring and reporting after restricted airspace zones were created in February over 44 strategic military sites.

A ministry spokesperson said the UK and its allies remained vigilant against potential threats.

The figures were published as European countries warn of an increase in suspected Russian hybrid operations on their territory. They also came a day after Russia summoned the UK's charge d'affaires over what Moscow called an escalation in arms supplies to Ukraine.