RAF drone tracks Russian warships in English Channel for first time
Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 05:50 · Archive
An unarmed RAF Protector drone has been used to monitor Russian naval activity in the English Channel for the first time.
An unarmed RAF Protector RG1 drone has been deployed to monitor Russian warships in the English Channel, marking the first time an RAF remotely piloted aircraft has been used operationally in the Channel. The drone flew for more than ten hours between late September and mid-October, providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance alongside Royal Navy warships and helicopters, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The operation tracked several Russian vessels. Between 1 and 14 October, HMS Dauntless and HMS Tune monitored a Russian frigate. RAF helicopters also tracked a Russian intelligence-gathering ship operating near NATO units during a training exercise and another Russian landing ship, RFN Aleksandr Shabalin, transiting through the English Channel.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Our Armed Forces work together every day, around the clock, to keep our country safe and safeguard our national interests. For the first time, Protector has joined Royal Navy warships and helicopters monitoring activity around our shores, demonstrating how we are constantly innovating to monitor and deter threats and irresponsible provocation.'
Wing Commander Sam Haley, officer commanding XIII Squadron, said the drone's 'first operational sorties in UK airspace demonstrate the significant value this capability brings to UK defence'. The Protector is one of 16 unmanned aircraft obtained by the RAF, of which 11 have been delivered into service.
Russian naval presence in British waters has intensified significantly. During the first seven months of 2026, there was a 25 per cent increase in Russian activity compared with the same period in 2025. The Daily Mail reports that military experts have warned President Vladimir Putin's vessels could deploy remote-controlled aircraft in a mass attack on the UK, with a senior military commander saying a Russian drone incursion could be launched in minutes from a ship off the UK coast.
How it is being reported
- RAF drones track Russian ships in English channel for first time as WW3 fears growRAF drones are now actively policing British waters 'to monitor and deter threats'Daily Express · 1 Nov, 05:41
- Spies in the sky: RAF sends up drones for the first time to monitor the Russian navy around British shoresThe news came after military experts warned that Vladimir Putin's vessels could be used to deploy their own remote-controlled aircraft in a mass attack on the UK.Daily Mail · 31 Oct, 22:31
- The images that show the UK’s new tactic to trail Russian ships in the ChannelThe operation, between late September and mid-October, marked the first time an RAF drone has been used in the English Channel, the MoD saidThe i Paper · 31 Oct, 22:30
In this story: RAF · Royal Navy · Ministry of Defence · English Channel · Wes Streeting · Russia · HMS Dauntless · HMS Tune
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
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