RAF drone tracks Russian warships over the English Channel for the first time amid warnings of a drone attack on Britain
The RAF Protector RG1 drone, which the MoD confirmed provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage alongside Royal Navy warships and helicopters as Russia's vessels were monitored near Britain's critical underwater cables.A Russian vessel tracked by an RAF drone over the English Channel. Royal Navy anti-Russian monitoring operations ran 25 per cent higher in the first seven months of 2026 than in the same period the previous year.
The unarmed Protector RG1 flew over the English Channel for more than ten hours between late September and mid-October, shadowing a Russian warship alongside Royal Navy vessels HMS Dauntless and HMS Tune — the first time the RAF has deployed a drone operationally in UK airspace for maritime surveillance. A senior military commander warned that a Russian ship off the coast could launch a drone attack on British infrastructure within minutes.
Russian vessels have been caught monitoring Britain's critical underwater cables, prompting a £330 million, four-year investment in seabed surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities.
Royal Navy anti-Russian monitoring operations are up 25 per cent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the mission showed Britain is 'constantly innovating to monitor and deter threats and irresponsible provocation.'
