Battlefield tactics to protect UK prisons against drones

Image by Blessed Graphix / copyright Shutterstock

The Government will look to apply battle-tested tactics used against Russian drone forces, adapted to protect UK prisons, as part of a new security drive to crackdown on criminals who use drones to smuggle drugs, weapons and mobile phones behind bars.

The UK has provided assistance to ensure Ukraine is at the forefront of drone and counter drone technology, having committed a record £350 million in 2025 to bolster their supply of drones from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 by the end of December 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister made the announcement following meetings with President Zelenskyy and Deputy Defence Minister Yurii Myronenko, while representing the UK at an international conference in Kyiv, to mark the first anniversary of the UK Government’s 100-Year Partnership with Ukraine.

To coincide with this, UK Research and Innovation has announced an additional £6.5 million to help accelerate anti-drone research and development. This is part of a cross-government initiative to test next-generation technology, that would allow prison staff to detect and bring down illegal drones out of the sky.

The Ministry of Justice is working with UK Defence Innovation and UK Research and Innovation to launch high-stakes competitions challenging international businesses – including those from Britain and Ukraine – to develop cutting-edge technologies to help counter the scourge of illegal drones and drugs behind bars.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: "Ukraine’s uniquely advanced and battle-tested anti-drone technology will help us tackle the challenges we face at home.

"I’ve tasked British prisons with learning from Ukraine’s drone expertise. We know prison drones pose a direct threat to national security and that’s why we’re acting decisively to tackle these gangs by investing millions in security and cutting-edge technology.

"This is yet another prime example of how our work abroad is benefitting people at home."

The latest stats show there were 1,712 drone incidents between April 2024 and March 2025 at prisons across England and Wales. The number of incidents at prisons involving drones skyrocketed by 770% between 2019 and 2023, with the devices increasingly being used by organised crime groups to smuggle contraband and fuel violence behind bars.

Government competitions will open the door to the world’s top technology businesses to pitch breakthrough solutions to Government as part of its drive to deliver safer streets.

This challenge is part of the Ministry of Justice’s wider ambition to engage with industry to source innovative security solutions. It follows a recent tech showcase where businesses presented cutting-edge technologies to ministers, aimed at tackling prison violence, improving monitoring and strengthening frontline security.

This is in addition to a £40 million boost to bolster prison security this year, including £10 million on anti-drone measures such as exterior netting and reinforced windows.