British Armed Forces to be given powers to shoot down drones near military bases

The British Armed Forces will be given powers to shoot down drones near military bases, Sky News reported.

The new powers come after reports of drone incidents near bases in the UK doubled last year - from 126 in 2024 to 266 in 2025.

Currently only the police and some other agencies have the power to shoot down drones.

Drones are usually shot down using an electromagnet that jams their signal, causing them to fall from the sky, although in some circumstances they can be shot down.

The new legislation will give the armed forces the power to shoot down any drones near defence sites when they are consider them to be a threat. This covers all types of drones, including underwater ones.

Defence Secretary John Healy said that "the doubling of the number of drones used near military sites in the UK in the last year highlights the growing and changing nature of the threats the country faces". "Through the Armed Forces Act, we are giving our military greater powers to destroy and shoot down threatening drones near bases and increasing investment in counter-drone technology to keep Britain safe at home and strong abroad", the Defence Secretary said.