Rogue drone pilots could face life in prison amid crackdown to protect spy bases
After the government used emergency powers to defend US bases, ROGUE drone pilots might be imprisoned for life.
For national security grounds, the crackdown prohibits drones at a dozen locations, including spy bases and air fields.
It follows a string of mysterious drone sightings at four US Air Force sites, including RAF Fairford, Glos, and RAF Lakenehaeath, Suffolk, that have been connected to nuclear weapons.
Amid concerns that the sabotage was being supported by Russia, SAS soldiers, MI5 agents, and specialized anti-drone squads jumped in to help apprehend the perpetrators last month.
But nobody has been taken into custody.
Furthermore, it’s unclear if any of the drones have been collected by the MoD Police, who are in charge of the inquiry.
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around Monday, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh imposed exclusion zones around 11 military locations, including eight outposts connected to espionage and missile early warning systems, a large weapons dump, and three operational airfields.
According to a source, the action permits the MoD to look into and bring charges against offenders using its national security capabilities.
The highest penalty for sabotage on behalf of a foreign power is life in jail.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the Secretary of State for Transportation has determined that, for national security considerations, Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 must be used to implement the Restriction of Flying Regulations for unmanned aircraft.
Drones must be over a certain altitude, between 2200 and 3000 feet, in order to fly within two nautical miles of recognized bases.
RAF Okahangar, Hants, which houses US Space Force troops, and RAF Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire, which houses 37 enormous radomes used by CIA and GCHQ spies, are among the locations.
The US Joint Intelligence Analysis Centre sends spies to RAF Croughton in Northants, RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire.
According to reports, the second-largest conventional munitions storage in Europe is located at RAF Welford in Berkshire.
America’s largest combat aviation facility in Europe, RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, is expected to house nuclear weapons.
B-52 strategic bombers land, refuel, and re-arm at RAF Fairford, Glos, during flights over Europe.
“We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defense sites,” a MOD official stated.
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