FEARS are mounting after suspected Russian drones were sighted near US airbases in the UK which are set to store nuclear missiles.
The small number of drones were sighted in the skies near RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell, in Norfolk, a US Air Force spokesperson confirmed.
Military troops have since been drafted in over concerns Russia is behind a spate of sabotage flights.
It comes just days after a fleet of “unmanned aerial devices” were identified flying above the sites.
The Sun understands the RAF deployed their ORCUS counter drone weapons which can jam the signal to hostile drones and let friendly forces take over controls
The RAF says the ORCUS system – which can fit in the back of a Chinook heliopter – can “detect, track, identify and, if necessary, defeat hostile drones”.
All airbases are continuing to be monitored after the drones were seen overnight and on Tuesday.
The first lot of incidents occurred between November 20 and 22.
The US Air Force, which has fighter jets on standby at the locations, said at the time it was unclear whether the drones were considered hostile.
A spokesperson for US Air Forces, in Europe, last week said: “We can confirm that small unmanned aerial systems (UASs) were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell between November 20 and 22.
“The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size [and] configuration.
“The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure”
The spokesperson added: “To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation.”
It comes days after a mystery drone resisted attempts to jam it when it flew over HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, on a visit to Hamburg last week.
The flights coincide with fury in Moscow over US and British decisions to let Ukraine fire long range cruise missiles at targets on Russian soil.
The drone had interrupted missions at RAF Lakenheath, which is home to the 48th Fighter Wing.
The Pentagon is planning to build a so-called “surety dormitory” to house doomsday nukes at the base for the first time since 2008.
The drone sightings on Wednesday came hours after Ukraine fired US ATAMCS missiles at an ammunition dump in Russia’s Bryansk.
RAF Mildenhall hosts America’s 100th Air Refueling Wing whose tankers allow US fighters to engage in long-range missions.
RAF Feltwell is described as a logistics hub with housing, schools and other services for US personnel.
Vlad in ban for Cabinet
VLADIMIR Putin yesterday banned Cabinet ministers from Russia and expelled a British diplomat amid spying claims.
Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were among those added to a “stop list” managed by the Moscow tyrant’s ministry of foreign affairs.
The Kremlin claimed the sanctions were in response to “hostile actions” from Britain.
A Brit diplomat accused of spying was also given two weeks to quit Russia.
No10 blasted the “malicious and baseless” spy accusation