Dec 10, 2024
Written By [Christopher Sharp](https://www.liberationtimes.com/?author=610434e320e3e945538177b1)
Liberation Times Opinion & Insight
Written by Franc Milburn – 10 December 2024
British and American responses to [recent drone incursions](https://www.twz.com/news-features/mysterious-drones-are-back-near-u-s-air-bases-in-the-united-kingdom) at UK Royal Air Force (RAF) bases [hosting](https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/Units/) and [supporting](https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/About-Us/) nuclear-capable United States Air Force (USAF) units – widely reported in [mainstream media](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/unidentified-drones-spotted-over-us-bases-in-the-uk-do-not-appear-belong-to-hobbyists/ar-AA1uQVYt), [defence](https://theaviationist.com/2024/11/27/unauthorised-drones-continue-to-plague-u-s-air-force-bases-in-the-uk/) and [regional outlets](https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24752808.drones-raf-milldenhall-lakenheath-causes-concern/) from late November – indicate likely adversarial activity.
Thus far, the USAF has not responded to Liberation times requests for additional clarification on concurrent drone or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) activity, or whether suspects have been identified and apprehended, but the types of units deployed, the affected locations, base attractiveness to hostile actors, the drone activity, plus official [statements](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24756397.criminal-investigation-drones-raf-feltwell/) with concurrent military [activities](https://brobible.com/slideshows/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-all-32-teams-ranked-worst-to-first-ahead-of-week-14/), provide indications as to what may have taken place.
At least one prominent UAP researcher has posited a possible UAP angle and speculation about this has increased – given the potential [presence of nuclear weapons](https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-11/united-kingdom-nuclear-weapons-2024/) – the platforms that deliver them and the historical [UAP / nuke](https://www.ufohastings.com/) case at [Rendlesham](https://archive.org/details/encounterinrendl0000pope/mode/2up) forest in 1980 and the 1956 [Lakenheath-Bentwaters](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010010-0.pdf) sightings.
Unfortunately, X / Twitter has been rife with misinformation and erroneous speculation, mostly due to accounts seeking to boost engagement.
I am not ruling out presence of more exotic technology or UAP, but rather attempting to put forward a more prosaic assessment in light of the information we do have.
My current assessment points to covert – plausibly deniable activity by a hostile actor – that is being taken very seriously by UK and U.S. authorities in the context of heightened international tensions.
At the same time, given the limited official or expert information available, one must keep an open mind and use [logical deduction and context](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkf0DeAZpBc&t=697s) to determine the most likely explanation.
A ssets And Bases Targeted
RAF Lakenheath, an RAF base used by USAF units – is a prime target for hostile intelligence services (and their proxies) activity. The Cold War era base – one of a sprawling network in East Anglia – hosts a strategically and operationally important USAF unit – the 48th Operations Group – which has four squadrons of F-35A and F-15E aircraft dedicated to operations for U.S. Air Forces Europe, U.S. European Command, NATO and also U.S. [Africa Command](https://www.africom.mil/).
Both aircraft types are capable of delivering the [B61 nuclear bomb](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-b-61-12-bomb-most-dangerous-nuclear-weapon-americas-arsenal-32976). F15E pilots from Lakenheath were recently [decorated](https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3965795/gallantry-under-fire-raf-lakenheath-honors-decorated-airmen-for-repelling-mass/) for actions intercepting Houthi and Iranian drones targeting Israel.
Significance: Russian President Vladimir Putin´s invasion of Ukraine, nuclear [sabre-rattling](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/25/europe/putin-nuclear-warns-west-missile-strikes-ukraine-intl-latam/index.html), [use of an ICBM](https://www.twz.com/news-features/russias-unprecedented-ballistic-missile-attack-on-ukraine-what-we-know) against Ukraine, and re-writing of [Russian nuclear doctrine](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-issues-warning-us-with-new-nuclear-doctrine-2024-11-19/) has NATO concerned.
This has led to [speculation](https://www.twz.com/american-nuclear-bombs-headed-back-to-united-kingdom) over [re-deployment](https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/01/us-moving-nuclear-weapons-to-uk-report/) of B61 nuclear bombs [to the UK](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-68217519) – specifically [Lakenheath](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-68129189) – coupled with certification of [NATO partner aircraft](https://www.twz.com/air/dutch-f-35s-take-on-a-full-nuclear-role) for the nuclear delivery role. As such, Lakenheath and other U.S. and RAF bases in the UK will be prime targets for hostile foreign espionage and sabotage activity.
RAF Mildenhall: another RAF base used by USAF units. The base hosts the USAF [100th Air Refuelling Wing](https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/About-Us/) – a unit operationally and strategically vital to worldwide American and NATO missions, including nuclear strike, because aircraft can´t undertake extended flights without air-to-air refuelling.
Additionally, Mildenhall hosts the USAF´s [352nd Special Operations Wing](https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/805715/352nd-special-operations-wing/) which: “plans and performs specialized operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refuelling techniques to transport and resupply military forces. The wing also provides tilt-rotor aircraft aerial refuelling and special operations weather capabilities.”
A sub-unit is the 321st Special Tactics Squadron – a USAF Special Operations rapid deployment unit that provides Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, special reconnaissance, pararescue specialists and Special Operations weathermen. The unit undertakes reconnaissance, surveillance and creation of drop zones and tactical air landing sites. They also provide combat medical support and recovery of personnel and equipment.
It should be noted that this is the only [USAF Special Op](https://www.afsoc.af.mil/) [erations](https://www.afsoc.af.mil/) unit located in Europe. As such, it could be tasked with UAP crash retrievals – given the assets available at Mildenhall, in Europe and the Spanish Canary Islands – that allow the unit to easily reach anywhere in Europe or Africa.
Significance: given the mission of the 100th to support tactical and potentially nuclear strikes by the F15E and F-35-equipped 48th Group, the 100th will be a prime target for hostile intelligence services seeking to understand American capabilities, organisation, locations, vulnerabilities and intentions.
Given the presence of USAF Special Operations units at Mildenhall – which operate from Europe to Africa – where Russian-controlled groups [are engaged](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/russias-growing-footprint-africa) – means that the unit will be of high interest to hostile intelligence services.
In event of high intensity conflict with Russia, th
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