Full Breakdown
RAF Near-Misses with Unidentified High-Altitude Drones Over the North Sea
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Two Close Encounters in February 2024
- 18 February – An RAF Airbus Voyager tanker refuelling a Typhoon fighter off Cromer, Norfolk, reported an unknown object at 17,000 ft (Flight Level 170). The pilot ducked as the craft passed 100–150 ft overhead.
- 23 February – During a simulated dogfight 30 miles off Humberside, a Typhoon pilot saw a black circular object the size of a car tyre pass approximately 300 ft above the aircraft at 12,500 ft.
Both objects were invisible on primary radar and were logged as “Voyager vs drone” and “Typhoon vs drone” in Defence Aviation Safety Occurrence Reports.
Background & Context
UK civil-aircraft regulations cap civilian unmanned-aircraft operations at 400 ft. The unidentified craft operated well above this limit and outside the range of standard commercial drone technology, prompting concerns about covert aerial surveillance and gaps in air-defence detection.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of incidents | 2 |
| Altitudes | 17,000 ft (Voyager) and 12,500 ft (Typhoon) |
| Proximity to aircraft | 100–150 ft (Voyager) and ~300 ft (Typhoon) |
| Distance from shore | Off Cromer, Norfolk; 30 miles off Humberside |
| Radar visibility | None on military displays |
Official Statements & Responses
- The RAF concluded that both pilots acted appropriately and that the “Airprox” incidents showed no causal factors and no link to hostile powers.
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is focused on closing technical blind spots that allow unidentified objects to enter active training zones undetected.
Why It Matters
The encounters expose a security vulnerability: high-altitude, radar-silent objects can penetrate restricted military airspace during live-fire exercises. If such craft are used for intelligence-gathering, they could compromise training realism and operational safety for the UK and allied forces.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Attribution: Defence experts have noted similar drones over US bases and suggested a Russian “shadow-fleet” may be responsible, but the RAF’s own findings state the incidents are not linked to hostile powers.
- Technical unknowns: Investigators have not recovered wreckage or telemetry, leaving the nature of the objects (advanced drones vs. specialised balloons) unresolved.
- External investigations: Multiple agencies, including North Yorkshire Police, are conducting separate inquiries, but no definitive conclusions have been published to date.
On-the-Ground Reports
Pilots described the experience in real time: the Voyager crew “instinctively ducked” when the object skimmed overhead, and the Typhoon pilot reported the black circular object “directly above his canopy.” Controllers confirmed the objects were not visible on radar and relayed the sightings to police.
What's Next
The MoD has indicated that further technical assessments will be undertaken to improve detection of low-observable aerial platforms. No specific dates for additional investigations or policy changes have been announced.