No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Methods Wing – sUAS Information

I’ve to confess to a way of pleasure at any time when a “drone flap” kicks off in Europe and the RAF is named in to analyze. It’s a recurring sample: the second they present up, the drones mysteriously vanish. It appears the mere menace of their arrival is sufficient to clear the skies.

Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless a bit miffed that my previous hang-out from the 80s—63 Squadron—has been transitioned into the RAF Regiment. Seeing the change earns a little bit of a “mutter and grumble” from me.

The story to this point wants a spot to dwell for future reference. I believe this can be a pretty complete listing. Do let me know if I missed any.

The RAF Regiment’s position in counter-drone operations is a contemporary extension of its historic mandate to offer low-level air defence for RAF airfields. The core of this functionality lies with 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, which was shaped at RAF Yatesbury on 19 November 1951. The squadron initially offered shut air defence utilizing 40mm Bofors weapons in the course of the Suez Canal Disaster and later in Cyprus in the course of the EOKA terrorist marketing campaign. Throughout the chilly conflict, it transformed to a light-weight armoured position utilizing Scorpion fight automobiles earlier than returning to ground-based air defence.

The defining shift within the squadron’s historical past occurred in the summertime of 2022, when 34 Squadron formally re-roled as a devoted counter-uncrewed plane system unit. Immediately, alongside 63 Squadron RAF Regiment and the 609 Royal Auxiliary Air Power Regiment, it kinds the No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Methods Wing based mostly at RAF Leeming. Working beneath the World Enablement and Fight Readiness Power instructions, the wing is presently the one fixed-site counter-drone functionality for UK defence.

The counter-drone arsenal: detect, disrupt, and destroy

The RAF’s counter-drone scheme is constructed upon a layered detect, disrupt, and destroy methodology, designed to protect air operations and shield infrastructure. The tools encompasses a number of extremely built-in applied sciences.

ORCUS: Rising from the Defence Tools and Assist’s Undertaking Synergia, ORCUS is the UK navy’s particular configuration of Leonardo’s Falcon Defend. Designed to defeat low, gradual, and small threats, the modular system fuses 3D multi-mode surveillance radar with radio frequency route discovering. For visible affirmation, it employs the NERIO-ULR gyro-stabilised turret, which options high-definition daytime and thermal cameras to offer optimistic identification at excessive ranges.

NINJA: Developed by the US Air Power Analysis Laboratory and built-in into ORCUS by Leonardo, NINJA supplies a surgical cyber impact. It electronically takes command of a hostile drone by hijacking its radio frequency hyperlinks, permitting RAF operators to soundly land the rogue drone for forensic exploitation.

Guardian: Performing as a long-range digital sniper rifle, the Leonardo Guardian system supplies a further digital warfare layer by jamming a drone’s command and management or GPS navigation hyperlinks.

Fast Sentry: When digital soft-kills are inadequate towards autonomous or swarming drones, the RAF depends on Fast Sentry. This kinetic system fires the Light-weight Multirole Missile manufactured by Thales UK. Able to speeds above Mach 1.5, the laser beam-riding missile can destroy fast-moving aerial threats at ranges exceeding 6km.

Shadow ISTAR: In complicated environments, the ground-based sensors are strengthened by Shadow R1 and R2 reconnaissance plane, which use superior electro-optical and digital intelligence suites from excessive altitude to trace drones again to their operators on the bottom.

Timeline of deployments (2018 to 2026)

The RAF’s counter-drone framework has developed quickly from home civil-contingency assist to a high-readiness expeditionary fight pressure.

December 2018: The RAF deployed an early Leonardo predecessor to the ORCUS system to find drones. Shortly afterwards, the system was deployed to London Heathrow Airport.

June 2021: ORCUS methods, operated by the RAF Regiment, had been deployed to the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall.

August 2021: The combination of the US NINJA expertise into the ORCUS system was efficiently evaluated on the RAF Spadeadam digital warfare vary in Cumbria.

Summer season 2022: The counter-drone framework was activated as a nationwide standby functionality to watch airspace in the course of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Birmingham Commonwealth Video games.

November 2024: US Air Power bases within the UK, particularly RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell. The Fight Readiness Power deployed roughly 60 personnel with the ORCUS system. They had been supported by Shadow ISTAR plane from RAF Waddington and US F-15E Strike Eagles.

October 2025: The menace expanded into hybrid warfare towards NATO allies. A specialist staff from No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Methods Wing deployed to Copenhagen, Denmark, on the Danish authorities’s request, securing two main European summits.

November 2025: An RAF detachment deployed to Belgium to guard delicate websites, together with airports in Brussels and Liege, and navy bases resembling Kleine-Brogel.

February to March 2026: The mission transitioned into energetic kinetic fight. Following an Iranian-made Shahed-type drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, the RAF deployed the Fast Sentry system to the area. On the evening of 23 to 24 March 2026, RAF Regiment gunners executed the simplest defensive motion so far towards persistent one-way assault drones. Throughout this era, 4 gunners achieved historic drone ace standing by efficiently capturing down 5 or extra hostile drones.

April 2026: Amidst escalating battle within the Center East, the UK deployed the Fast Sentry system to Kuwait. The deployment aimed to defend vital nationwide infrastructure, together with an oil refinery at Mina al-Ahmadi and an important water desalination plant, following deliberate drone and missile strikes by Iran.

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