RAF Jets Report Near-Misses With Unidentified Drones

The Royal Air Force reported two near-misses with unidentified black objects over the North Sea in February 2026. On February 18, an object flew 100 to 150 feet above an Airbus Voyager tanker during a refueling operation off Cromer, Norfolk, at an altitude of 17,000 feet. On February 23, a Typhoon pilot spotted a black, circular object roughly the size of a car tyre passing 300 feet above his aircraft during simulated dogfight training off Humberside at an altitude between 12,000 and 12,500 feet.

Both objects eluded radar detection and operated at altitudes far exceeding the 400-foot legal limit for commercial drones. The RAF flagged the sightings to police, including North Yorkshire Police, triggering multiple external investigations.

While the RAF has not formally linked these sightings to hostile powers, the incidents occurred shortly before the start of the U.S. war with Iran. A report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies suggests Russian intelligence conducted a drone surveillance campaign over the UK and Europe between August 2024 and February 2026, allegedly utilizing a shadow fleet of oil tankers to launch the craft. The Ministry of Defence has not commented on the specific incidents but stated it remains vigilant against potential threats.