Defence Secretary John Healey called the deployment of RAF Counter-Drone units to Denmark a necessary step — Defence Secretary John Healey called the deployment of RAF counter-drone units to Denmark a necessary step (Picture: RAF X)

RAF

UK deploys RAF counter-drone units to Denmark following latest string of drone sightings

A specialist Royal Air Force counter-drone unit has been sent to Denmark to boost security following the latest string of suspicious drone activity.

Earlier in the week, EU leaders met at a major summit in Copenhagen against a backdrop of rising tensions across Europe, following the latest drone incursions in Denmark, and earlier incidents in Estonia and Poland.

Defence Secretary John Healey called the deployment of RAF counter-drone units to Denmark a necessary step "in response to the drone attacks observed at its main airport and regional airports".

He added that "no one should be in any doubt that we are facing a level of grey zone activity and aggression which is testing us and testing other countries".

Elements of the Leonardo Falcon Shield C-UAS system as used by the RAF Regiment, has been deployed to Denmark in a C-UAS capacity (Picture: RAF X)

Heightened drone activity

On Monday, 22 September, unidentified drones were spotted over Copenhagen airport and Oslo Gardermoen airport in neighbouring Norway, forcing them both to close for several hours.

Two days later, on Wednesday evening, Denmark's Aalborg and Billund airports reported similar sightings and were forced to close temporarily, while three other airports also detected drone activity but remained operational. On 27 September, drones were observed over the Royal Danish Air Force bases at Skrydstrup and Karup.

The recent surge in drone sightings has raised concerns about the nation's vulnerability to aerial attack and the potential of Russian involvement.

However, Denmark's defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, has said there is no evidence linking Moscow to the drone incursions.

Denmark is cooperating closely with its allies, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, the US, UK and Ukraine; many of whom have contributed actual units and capabilities that are now operating on Danish soil.

Chief of Danish Defence, General Michael Wigger Hyldgaard said support from Nato countries enabled Denmark to adapt quickly — Chief of Danish Defence, General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard said support from Nato countries enabled Denmark to adapt quickly (Picture: RAF X)

This support request highlights the critical importance of specialist counter-drone capabilities, especially when highly trained personnel from the RAF Regiment and advanced technology can rapidly and safely neutralise the threats posed by unauthorised drones.

Chief of Danish defence, General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard, said: "The support we are currently seeing from our close allies is tangible proof of the strong international cooperation of which Denmark is a part, both in the EU and Nato.

"It enables us to adapt quickly to the present situation and demonstrate that, when it matters, we stand together."