Gatwick Drone and the Regiment
 

I gather that the "army" protecting Gatwick were Regiment. [There's a surprise!]

I am astounded that MoD have announced withdrawal of same. Does PR trump OPSEC these days? I cannot for the life of me see a logical reason for publicising end of military protection.

If you are concerned about OPSEC....by announcing the termination of an Operation....were you as concerned about the publication of the start and conduct of the same Operation?

No, because I assume that the motive for deployment and publicity was reassurance and deterrence. [Plus the urge to be seen to be "doing something"]
By announcing departure we have lost both.
[Incidentally the army appear to get maximum credit, and the Regiment will be criticised if matters go tits up again.]

And how can you be sure that the report the soldiers are leaving is true and not a deliberate lie to lull the offenders into a false sense of security and see if they bring their toys out again?
The SAS have an on going role in aviation security, including hi jacks etc. they have had since the seventies to my knowledge.

Over in the colonies, the last news that was even reported was the London mayor confirming that there might not have been any drones at all, right underneath the report that the only 2 people detained had been released without charges. Except for those directly involved, there seems to be a collective yawn in progress on this side of the pond.

I got lased twice on approach in the same city just a few days after the Gatwick UFO sightings, but I'm pretty sure nobody cares about that either :)

I was under the impression it was 14th Sigs that were deployed to Gatwick...?

The airlines and the airports are having to dig deep to pay for new kit - which they should have had anyway

It's not the RAF Regiments job to provide 24/7 coverage for people who can pay - if it did occur it wasn't a terrorist or military act anyway

I spent a happy few hours trying to get the Beeb report corrected, with reference to which bit of the military had been involved, and which kit had been deployed.

MoD did confirm to me that it was indeed the Rocks involved (not the Pongoes). I also understand that the Rafael 'Drone Dome' kit has not yet been delivered - so presumably it was Horizon, or somesuch.

If you check the latest version of the Beeb report (3 Jan), you'll see they have made the corrections.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-46741687

airsound

Great work AS!

It is amazing the complete horsesh1t that comes from HM Gov, MoD, Police etc... Are all "official" agencies completely immune to some accountability? :=

OAP

I fear so.
We have become a banana republic. Incompetence has become the acceptable norm. The pursuit of excellence is derided.

Not sure what it would have to do with the "London mayor" - Gatwick isn't in his area of responsibility because it's not in London (it's in West Sussex). The police force dealing with it isn't the one that reports to him either. So that just sounds like some hick colonial newshound spouting made-up news to me...

PDR

Zing! Caught a big one :)

You see, it was the "UK Police" at London Gatwick. Because as far as US media is concerned, Gatwick is in London and the UK is so small there is only one "UK Police" organization.

https://www.businessinsider.com/poli...report-2018-12

Here's another slightly more informative actual riveting news report also dated 24 Dec. Can't seem to find anything about it after that. Not kidding this time.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/24/uk-p...-released.html

Well it is the UK.....and sorry....but it is a small. place....really!

It is called LGW you know.....like London/Gatwick.

I night stopped there whenever possible so as to hit the "Curry Inn" in Horley followed by a longish visit to the Six Bells Pub.

Don't blame the American Media.....Journalism school is for those who cannot qualify for any other degree.

I spent 2 years living in Cambridge, loved it. Learned enough to "miss" the UK from just a decade or two ago. Maybe I'm just dreaming but I'm hoping Brexit will help the UK recapture their own unique spirit. I'm probably wrong but it was the history and heritage of the UK that I most loved and missed after I left.

For me a Google News search for Sadiq Khan and drones turns up... Nothing. Can you provide a link?

nice try, wrong thread (twice).

​​​​​​Start an new thread, perhaps in nostalgia 'I loved Cambridge, history and heritage '