Australia and UK introduce measures to protect military bases from drones

Australia and the United Kingdom are implementing new legislative and technical measures to protect military installations from uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) following increased drone incursions.

In Australia, the federal government has introduced the Defence Legislation Amendment (Accelerating Capability and Protecting Bases) Bill 2026. This bill reforms the Defence Act 1903 to provide an enduring legislative authority to detect, monitor, and take action against drones over sensitive sites. The reforms aim to accelerate the development of advanced capabilities and support the National Defence Strategy and AUKUS pillars.

In the United Kingdom, restricted airspace has been applied to 50 defence sites, with an additional 170 sites expected to be covered by December 2026. The UK government has allocated £470 million over four years for security technology and infrastructure through the Defence Investment Plan. This includes £240 million for Project PRESAGIUM, an enhanced counter-drone system, and the Army’s Project Halo Shield, which evaluates commercial counter-drone technologies.