British military officials confirmed over the weekend that the Royal Air Force used its Protector RG1 drone last month to track a Russian warship in the English Channel.
It was the first time the British military used the Protector drone — based on the U.S.-designed MQ-9B SkyGuardian — in an operational mission over British airspace, British military officials said.
The RAF drone was part of a multi-service effort between Oct. 1 and Oct. 14 to monitor the Russian Baltic Fleet frigate RFN Neustrashimy and associated Russian vessels as they transited around Britain in several areas.
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“The unarmed Protector RG1 flew over the English Channel, providing more than 10 hours of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance coverage in support of national maritime tasking,” British defense officials said in a statement. “The milestone came as Royal Navy warships and helicopters carried out a series of operations monitoring Russian vessels in the English Channel, North Sea and waters west of Scotland.”
Along with the RAF’s Protector RG1 drone, the British sent HMS Tyne and HMS Dauntless to follow the Russian vessels, which remained in international waters.
“The deployment comes as the U.K. responds to persistent Russian activity in and around our waters, with Britain’s armed forces working around the clock alongside NATO allies to monitor and deter potential threats and protect our national interests,” British military officials said in a statement.
The Royal Navy said its monitoring of Russian naval movements increased by 25% during the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
The incident sparked domestic criticism and warnings about the state of the British military. Critics pointed out that while the Royal Navy successfully monitored the ships, it did so while facing critical readiness challenges.
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