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Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
UK's arsenal of nuclear bombers will be protected by garden fence just 5 FEET tall – amid fury over Brize Norton breach
THE UK's deadly arsenal of nuclear bomber jets will only be protected by a 5ft garden fence amid fury over the Brize Norton breach. Britain's state-of-the-art warplanes across the country are being 'guarded' by flimsy wooden fences and even hedgerows in a huge security risk, according to a new investigation by the Telegraph. 8 New F-35 bombers are nuclear-capable 8 The jets will reportedly be protected by a 5ft-high fence that could be scaled by saboteurs Credit: The Telegraph 8 Other bases were also at risk with flimsy defences Credit: The Telegraph The outlet found that some of the RAF's most critical airbases could be waltzed into by determined activists or enemy agents with barely a barbed wire in sight. In one shocking case, a 5ft chain-link fence was all that stood between infiltrators and a base tipped to host Britain's new nuclear-ready F-35 fighter jets. At other bases, entire sections of the perimeter are protected by garden-style wooden fences, patchy CCTV, or even nothing at all – making them sitting ducks for intruders, according to findings. It comes after huge security concerns were raised in recent weeks following a break in at RAF Brize Norton. An estimated £7million of damage was inflicted at the Oxfordshire air base including military aircraft sprayed with paint during the raid. The group Palestine Action have claimed the damage on two Voyager aircraft was carried out by them. The group has since vowed to strike again, naming two more RAF bases as future targets, including one that trains the UK's top military officers. The Telegraph, which accessed a secret meeting of the group, reports that one of the bases has a four-mile stretch of perimeter made up of broken fences, drystone walls, or open access points. Shocking findings also revealed that there were also two gates that are simply left open. Another site had three unmanned gate barriers with gaping holes in between, giving infiltrators a straight run onto the grounds. UK military ready for war Greg Bagwell former Air Marshal RAF says One of the bases targeted is reportedly linked to Elbit Systems UK, a weapons firm repeatedly targeted by activists. And while some 10ft black metal fences have recently gone up on site, huge gaps remain. Even the RAF's main intelligence hub isn't safe, with 700 metres of its perimeter protected by a mix of hedges and low metal fencing. There is no barbed wire in sight and a handy escape route leads straight onto the A15. Nearby, another base is protected only by a 6ft-high, garden-style wooden fence for almost 1.5 miles along its north and eastern perimeter. The major base is home to RAF Typhoon fighter squadrons. Insiders admitted to the Telegraph that the defences were 'not perfect'. Security experts have already warned the sites' weaknesses are clearly visible on Google Street View and is highly likely to have already been assessed by activists and foreign agents. 8 The 5ft high chain link fence Credit: The Telegraph 8 It comes after RAF Brize Norton was broken into and vandalised Credit: Alamy 8 Security experts have already warned against the fence Credit: The Telegraph The Telegraph claims to have handed over its dossier to the Ministry of Defence. However, it is refusing to name the bases or pinpointing the weak spots, for national security reasons. Video posted online last month showed yobs from Palestine Action vandalising Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton. Four people have since appeared in court since the attack and have been remanded into custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on July 18. It is understood that enhanced measures are in place following the infiltration at Brize Norton and that security at all bases is under review. Further 'layered' security measures are also in place inside the bases and other non-visible security measures being used include electronic motion sensors. Sources also said there were air safety limits on the height of fences that can be erected immediately next to runways. The majority of the five bases' perimeters consist of barbed wire-topped metal fencing and main gates are guarded by uniformed personnel. Frequent patrols are conducted by the RAF, police and dog units, and signs warn people to keep out. A MoD spokesperson told the Telegraph: 'We take security extremely seriously and operate a multi-layered approach to protect our sites, including fencing, patrols and CCTV monitoring. 'Following the security incident at RAF Brize Norton, we are urgently reviewing security procedures across the Defence estate and have immediately implemented a series of enhanced security measures at all sites. 'After years of hollowing out and underfunding of the Armed Forces, the Strategic Defence Review concluded that we need to invest more in this area, backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.' 8 Military aircraft were sprayed with paint during a break-in at RAF Brize Norton Credit: Unpixs
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
UK's arsenal of nuclear bombers will be protected by garden fence just 5 FEET tall – amid fury over Brize Norton breach
THE UK's deadly arsenal of nuclear bomber jets will only be protected by a 5ft garden fence amid fury over the Brize Norton breach. Britain's state-of-the-art warplanes across the country are being 'guarded' by flimsy wooden fences and even hedgerows in a huge security risk, according to a new investigation by Advertisement 8 New F-35 bombers are nuclear-capable 8 The jets will reportedly be protected by a 5ft-high fence that could be scaled by saboteurs Credit: The Telegraph 8 Other bases were also at risk with flimsy defences Credit: The Telegraph The outlet found that some of the RAF's most critical airbases could be waltzed into by determined activists or enemy agents with barely a barbed wire in sight. In one shocking case, a 5ft chain-link fence was all that stood between infiltrators and a base tipped to host Britain's new nuclear-ready F-35 fighter jets. At other bases, entire sections of the perimeter are protected by garden-style wooden fences, patchy CCTV, or even nothing at all – making them sitting ducks for intruders, according to findings. It comes after huge security concerns were raised in recent weeks following a break in at RAF Brize Norton. Advertisement Read more News An estimated £7million of damage was inflicted at the Oxfordshire air base including military aircraft sprayed with paint during the raid. The group Palestine Action have claimed the damage on two Voyager aircraft was carried out by them. The group has since vowed to strike again, naming two more RAF bases as future targets, including one that trains the UK's top military officers. The Telegraph, which accessed a secret meeting of the group, reports that one of the bases has a four-mile stretch of perimeter made up of broken fences, drystone walls, or open access points. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Shocking findings also revealed that there were also two gates that are simply left open. Another site had three unmanned gate barriers with gaping holes in between, giving infiltrators a straight run onto the grounds. UK military ready for war Greg Bagwell former Air Marshal RAF says One of the bases targeted is reportedly linked to Elbit Systems UK, a weapons firm repeatedly targeted by activists. And while some 10ft black metal fences have recently gone up on site, huge gaps remain. Advertisement Even the RAF's main intelligence hub isn't safe, with 700 metres of its perimeter protected by a mix of hedges and low metal fencing. There is no barbed wire in sight and a handy escape route leads straight onto the A15. Nearby, another base is protected only by a 6ft-high, garden-style wooden fence for almost 1.5 miles along its north and eastern perimeter. The major base is home to RAF Typhoon fighter squadrons. Advertisement Insiders admitted to the Telegraph that the defences were 'not perfect'. Security experts have already warned the sites' weaknesses are clearly visible on Google Street View and is highly likely to have already been assessed by activists and foreign agents. 8 The 5ft high chain link fence Credit: The Telegraph 8 It comes after RAF Brize Norton was broken into and vandalised Credit: Alamy Advertisement 8 Security experts have already warned against the fence Credit: The Telegraph The Telegraph claims to have handed over its dossier to the Ministry of Defence. However, it is refusing to name the bases or pinpointing the weak spots, for national security reasons. Video posted online last month showed yobs from Palestine Action vandalising Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton. Advertisement Four people have since appeared in court since the attack and have been remanded into custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on July 18. It is understood that enhanced measures are in place following the infiltration at Brize Norton and that security at all bases is under review. Further 'layered' security measures are also in place inside the bases and other non-visible security measures being used include electronic motion sensors. Sources also said there were air safety limits on the height of fences that can be erected immediately next to runways. Advertisement The majority of the five bases' perimeters consist of barbed wire-topped metal fencing and main gates are guarded by uniformed personnel. Frequent patrols are conducted by the RAF, police and dog units, and signs warn people to keep out. A MoD spokesperson told the Telegraph: 'We take security extremely seriously and operate a multi-layered approach to protect our sites, including fencing, patrols and CCTV monitoring. 'Following the security incident at RAF Brize Norton, we are urgently reviewing security procedures across the Defence estate and have immediately implemented a series of enhanced security measures at all sites. Advertisement 'After years of hollowing out and underfunding of the Armed Forces, the Strategic Defence Review concluded that we need to invest more in this area, backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.' 8 Military aircraft were sprayed with paint during a break-in at RAF Brize Norton Credit: Unpixs 8 Footage posted online showed two people inside the Oxfordshire base at night, with one spraying paint into the engine of an Airbus Credit: Unpixs
Miami Herald
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
New Satellite Image Shows U.S. Air Force Buildup at Key Indian Ocean Base
A new satellite image showed a buildup of U.S. Air Force assets at Diego Garcia, a strategic American base in the Indian Ocean. The development comes as tensions are high across the Middle East and Indo-Pacific after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) for comment. Diego Garcia serves as a critical forward base for U.S. military operations stretching from the Middle East to Southeast Asia. Its remote location and extensive airfield make it a key launching point for long-range strike missions and rapid-response deployments. The deployments at the base suggest a readiness for further military action in the region. The new satellite image revealed a U.S. aircraft presence at Diego Garcia that includes four B-52 strategic bombers, six F-15 fighter jets, and six KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, according to open-intelligence analyst MT Anderson on X, formerly known as Twitter. Diego Garcia's remote location-about 2,200 miles from Iran and 3,000 from southern China-provides a secure launch point for U.S. aircraft to conduct long-range missions and remain on station. Significant movement of military equipment at the air base had been taking place since March with experts believing it could be a staging point for any attack on Iran. In May, the U.S. Air Force announced that B-2 Spirit bombers had returned to Missouri after a deployment to Diego Garcia. On June 13, the U.S. launched a surprise overnight strike on three key Iranian nuclear facilities using B-2 stealth bombers that took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The overnight mission relied on deception, aerial refueling, and near-total radio silence to maintain secrecy and tactical surprise. Decoy flights toward the Pacific diverted attention from the actual eastward strike. Codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, seven B-2 bombers dropped over a dozen 30,000-pound bunker busters on deeply buried nuclear sites., making it the most ambitious U.S. stealth airstrike in decades. The bombers had also been used in striking Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. Air Marshall Greg Bagwell, former Royal Air Force deputy operations chief told BBC Verify in June: "You would be able to maintain a sustained operation from [Diego Garcia] far more efficiently. You could literally have them round the clock operating." Diego Garcia's assets remain well-positioned to respond swiftly should tensions in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific escalate, as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains fragile and U.S.-Iran diplomatic negotiations are stalled in post-conflict tensions. Related Articles Defense Department Worker Charged with Stealing Top-Secret DocumentsB-2 Strikes on Iran Expose Limits of Elon Musk's 'Drone Swarms'Photos Show US Air Force Training for Pacific WarIs Donald Trump Considering Tactical Nukes Against Iran? What We Know 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
