I
s the UK ready for drones? The answer, as with most questions of military readiness, is that it depends. It depends on the scenario, the type of drone and the scale at which they are used. For the most part, the British Armed
Forces are able to deal with drones and have demonstrated that capability repeatedly. However, against a peer adversary, there is one crucial area in which they remain under- resourced: scale.
At close quarters The tactical use of drones is arguably the area where British forces, from the Army to the Royal Marines and RAF Regiment, face an uphill battle. Small drones have been used for bombing or as accessible loitering munitions in most conflicts fought since the turn of the millennium. In Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces have found their movement hampered
by Hezbollah drone strikes. Vehicles have been lost and logistics attacked, constraining movement around the area of operations. Drones have also been used by various Islamic State groups in Africa, the rebels fighting Myanmar’s regime and during the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. In short, small drones used in tactical settings are here to stay.
The British Army and RAF Regiment
have not been idle, however. The RAF is responsible for operating Orcus, a counter-drone command-and-control system from Leonardo, which integrates radars, cameras and passive radio- frequency sensors for detection. It includes a cyber and electronic-
warfare countermeasure system called Ninja, which can take control of some drones, as well as the Rapid Sentry turret carrying Lightweight Multirole Missiles for kinetic interceptions.
The layered system has been developed since around 2018 and reached initial operating capability in 2020. Countering drones is therefore not
new, and the British Army has carried out several procurements to support its soldiers. These include SMASH X4, a rifle sight with a built-in fire-control system that assists with targeting drones. According to BFBS in 2024, around 500 SMASH sights were in service across the forces, providing a last line of defence. Shotguns have also appeared in training with 2 YORKS, while General Sir Roly Walker, chief of the general staff, has said that a number of electronic- warfare systems have entered service in recent years. The Army is also undertaking
extensive training to counter drones, as well as to use them at a tactical level. During Exercise Flytrap in May 2026, soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were observed testing the DroneGun,
Photo credit: Corporal Rebecca Brown/@MOD Crown Copyright 2024
26 Advance | Autumn 2026
DEFENCE
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