Britain sends elite RAF counter-drone force to Denmark to face rising Russian threat

Britain has deployed its most advanced counter-drone system, Orcus, alongside a specialist RAF Regiment unit to Denmark to help NATO allies counter a surge in suspected Russian incursions - a hybrid campaign that officials say is deliberately designed to test Western defences.

The Orcus system, part of the RAF's Counter-Uncrewed Air Systems (C-UAS) capability, can detect, track, identify and defeat hostile drones using integrated radar, sensors and electronic jamming. Analysts describe it as one of the most advanced electronic-warfare assets of its kind.

The specialist RAF Regiment team, from Number 2 C-UAS Wing, was sent after a series of unidentified drone incidents near civilian and military sites disrupted air traffic across Northern Europe.

The move was requested by Denmark, which this week hosted two major European summits in Copenhagen.

Defence Secretary John Healy said the deployment was "a necessary step in response to the drone attacks observed at Denmark's main and regional airports," adding: "No one should be in any doubt that we are facing a level of grey-zone activity and aggression which is testing us and testing other countries."

The RAF confirmed the deployment followed a direct Danish request for additional security support. Officials said it demonstrated the critical importance of specialist counter-drone capabilities, where highly trained personnel and advanced systems such as Orcus can rapidly and safely neutralise unauthorised drones.

The UK's move comes amid growing concern that Moscow is using its so-called 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers to launch surveillance and probing drones.

Western intelligence officials believe some of the tankers, which carry Russian oil to countries such as China and India through narrow Baltic passages, have been modified to act as mobile drone bases - a claim the Kremlin denies.

Alliance commanders believe the incursions over Denmark and Norway form part of a wider Russian "probing" operation designed to test NATO's response times and political unity. US President Donald Trump has urged European nations to "shoot down" any unidentified drones entering their airspace.

In Copenhagen, General Michael Wiggers, Denmark's Chief of Defence, praised the UK support:

"The support we are currently seeing from our close allies is tangible proof of the strong international cooperation of which Denmark is a part, both in the EU and NATO.

"It enables us to adapt quickly to the present situation and demonstrate that, when it matters, we stand together."

Denmark is now coordinating closely with allies including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, the US, the UK and Ukraine - many of whom have deployed personnel or capabilities on Danish soil.

Danish intelligence chief Thomas Ahrenkiel has warned that "Russia is waging a hybrid war against NATO," and Copenhagen has raised its sabotage threat level against its armed forces to high.

The deployment underscores the UK's role as a front-line NATO contributor in the face of intensifying grey-zone tactics by Moscow. British officials say Russian attempts to jam UK satellites and probe NATO infrastructure have increased sharply since midsummer.

Major General Paul Tedman recently confirmed that Russia has been trying to jam UK military satellites "every week" using ground-based systems.

A senior RAF source said: "The equipment we have allows us to deal with most threats and, as I understand it, we will be supporting other NATO nations in the months ahead to counter any further drone incursion by Russia."