RAF jets nearly collided with radar-invisible drones flying at 40 times the legal limit over the North Sea

Two RAF aircraft had near-misses with unidentified drones on separate occasions during North Sea military exercises in February, with neither object appearing on radar despite operating at altitudes far beyond the reach of most commercial drones. In the first incident, on February 18, an RAF Airbus Voyager tanker pilot instinctively flinched as an object passed overhead at 17,000ft near Cromer, Norfolk. Five days later, a Typhoon pilot carrying out dogfight training off Humberside saw a black circular object, roughly car-tyre-sized, pass directly above him. Multiple external investigations are under way amid growing concern that hostile states may be deploying drones to gather intelligence on Western military operations.

Both objects were well above the legal 400ft ceiling — the first was spotted at 17,000ft, over 40 times the permitted limit.

Police were notified of both sightings, and a Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed the department is investing more than £2 billion in counter-drone capabilities.

Defence analysts had previously warned that drones observed over US airbases in Norfolk and Suffolk were connected to a Russian vessel stationed offshore.