Dozens of British soldiers have been drafted in to help the US find out who is responsible for flying more mystery drones over three air bases in England.
A small number of drones were spotted overnight flying over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, United States Air Force (USAF) confirmed on Tuesday.
Sources told the PA news agency around 60 troops have been deployed to help USAF in its investigation of the incident.
USAF said the number of sightings “fluctuated and varied between the bases” but the drones have not been identified as hostile.
It comes just days after USAF confirmed that a small number of “unmanned aerial systems” were spotted in the vicinity of and over the three bases between Wednesday and Sunday.
UK authorities are working to ensure the safety of the sites.
USAF has not identified who is believed to be behind the incidents.
Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell, located close to one another in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, are Royal Air Force bases used primarily by the US Air Force.
Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which the US Air Force describes as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe. Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and Feltwell is a hub for housing, schools and other services.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesperson for USAF in Europe said: “We can confirm there were sightings yesterday during night-time hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated and varied between the bases over the night.
“Since November 20, there has been no impact to residents or infrastructure and they have not been identified as hostile.
“However, they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installations.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites.
“We are supporting the US Air Force response.”
