No 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems Wing

The RAF’s counter‑drone evolution reflects a broader shift in modern warfare, where low‑cost unmanned systems threaten high‑value assets. Building on its historic air‑defence mandate, the Regiment repurposed 34 Squadron in 2022, creating the No 2 Counter‑Uncrewed Aerial Systems Wing—Britain’s sole fixed‑site drone‑defence hub. This re‑role leverages decades of ground‑based air‑defence expertise while integrating cutting‑edge sensors and electronic warfare tools, ensuring the service can detect, identify, and neutralise threats across the spectrum of size and speed.

At the heart of the wing’s capability is a layered suite of technologies. ORCUS fuses 3‑D radar, radio‑frequency direction finding, and high‑definition visual turrets to spot low‑observable drones at long range. The US‑developed NINJA module adds a cyber‑kill element, hijacking hostile UAVs for safe recovery and forensic exploitation. For electronic suppression, Leonardo’s Guardian system jams command‑and‑control links, while the kinetic Rapid Sentry missile—capable of Mach 1.5 speeds and over 6 km range—provides a decisive kill against autonomous or swarm attacks. Shadow ISTAR aircraft augment ground sensors with high‑altitude EO/ELINT, tracking operators back to their launch points.

Operationally, the wing has moved from domestic contingency support to an expeditionary force. Deployments have ranged from safeguarding the G7 summit and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to protecting European infrastructure during the Copenhagen summits and countering Iranian‑style drone attacks in Cyprus and Kuwait. These missions underscore the strategic value of a rapid‑response, integrated counter‑UAS capability, especially as state and non‑state actors proliferate cheap, weaponised drones. Looking ahead, the RAF is likely to expand its electronic‑warfare portfolio and explore AI‑driven threat analysis, cementing the United Kingdom’s position at the forefront of counter‑drone innovation.