This is the harrowing moment British troops were forced to take cover as they came under attack during a deployment to the Middle East. Soldiers belonging to RAF Counter Uncrewed Aerial System teams were seen lying flat on the ground as sirens blared overhead in a video shared by the UK's Ministry of Defence.
One soldier told the others: 'Make sure you're ready to brace.' Another was heard saying: 'Boys, get ready to brace!' As the troops prepared for the attack, a roar of missiles could be heard from outside. A voice over the tannoy was heard saying: 'Incoming, incoming, incoming.' Several explosions rang out, muffled by the thick concrete walls the soldiers were behind. A voice could be heard saying: 'Detection - ballistic missile impact.'
In another video, again shared by the MoD, a drone was seen being taken out by the RAF. The MoD said that its soldiers were operating Rapid Sentries - ground-based, short-range counter-drone missile systems that are used to protect key infrastructure from attacks from the air. It added that the Rapid Sentries used Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to eliminate threats from the air 'across the Middle East, working around the clock to protect our partners and allies in the region.'
The MoD said 'several' soldiers have now achieved an 'Ace' status, having eliminated at least five threats. Last month, a British Special Forces base in northern Iraq repelled a record 14 Iranian suicide drones. The 14 drones were shot out of the night sky by troops from the elite Royal Air Force Regiment who are specialists in protecting bases using ground to air rocket systems.
The first line of defence is the Orcus uncrewed drones that patrol the airspace around Erbil. Another RAF Regiment system Ninja is able to intercept drones by hacking into guidance systems. The RAF Regiment practiced intercepting enemy drones on exercise in Wales before deploying to northern Iraq. Drills at Air Defence Range Manorbier in Pembrokeshire have proved effective in the war zone.
In a post on Facebook the RAF Regiment said its specialists were playing a vital role in defensive operations in the Middle East. It said: 'They are actively detecting, tracking and neutralising airborne threats, working closely with coalition partners to ensure the safety of personnel and the continuity of operations. Through precision, professionalism and coordination, they remain committed to protecting people and critical infrastructure in a complex and evolving environment.'
