Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has urged the public and policymakers to remain calm amid growing concern over Russia, while warning that Britain and its allies must take military readiness, drone threats and coordinated deterrence seriously.
Carns, the Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak and a former Royal Marines colonel, said major conventional military movements are difficult to conceal and that intelligence indicators would normally build over time rather than appearing without warning. He served as Minister for the Armed Forces until June this year.
He said:
"My advice on all the noise around Russia at the moment would be keep calm and listen to the Brits."
Carns argued that Britain benefits from strong intelligence capabilities, while large-scale troop and equipment movements by an adversary would generally leave detectable indicators.
Carns warns of 'Little Green Drones'
Alongside that reassurance, he said the Government should be taking preparedness extremely seriously. He highlighted the importance of tracking elite Russian drone units and equipment, arguing that the methods associated with Russia's covert intervention in Crimea in 2014 could evolve into a new form of hybrid warfare.
He wrote:
"Little Green Men in 2014 will turn to Little Green Drones in 2026/27."
That concern reflects lessons Carns has repeatedly drawn from Ukraine. While serving as Armed Forces Minister earlier this year, he said the UK needed to learn from the rapid development of unmanned systems and accelerate the integration of drones, artificial intelligence and autonomous technology into military doctrine.
Government investing in counter-drone defences
The Ministry of Defence is already expanding Britain's ability to detect and defeat hostile drones. Ministers confirmed this month that £240 million is being invested in Project PRESAGIUM, an enhanced counter-drone system, alongside wider investment in integrated air and missile defence and protection of critical national infrastructure.
The Army is also receiving more than 1,000 new smaller surveillance drones under a £16 million programme, alongside plans for up to £400 million of investment in longer-endurance intelligence and reconnaissance systems.
Russia's hybrid activity already a concern
Carns' comments come against a backdrop of heightened concern over Russian activity below the threshold of conventional war. The UK has accused Russia of involvement in cyber attacks, sabotage, disinformation and attacks on European infrastructure.
This week Britain told the OSCE that a Russian state-directed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport formed part of a wider pattern of activity against European security. The Government has also said Russia remains the most pressing and immediate source of hybrid threat to the UK and its allies.
Joint Expeditionary Force central to response
Carns also called for close coordination with Britain's Joint Expeditionary Force allies, saying any posture and potential response should be aligned in advance.
The UK leads the ten-nation JEF, which brings together northern European allies for rapid military cooperation in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic regions. At the JEF leaders' summit in Helsinki earlier this year, member states highlighted the growing number of foreign drone incidents and agreed on the need to strengthen detection, interception and collective response.
Readiness without alarmism
Carns' argument is twofold: there is no reason for public panic, but there is every reason for government to prepare seriously. He said military options should already have been developed and briefed to senior decision-makers, while intelligence, drone tracking and coordination with allies should remain priorities.
His message is that Britain should avoid alarmism over Russia while ensuring its intelligence, counter-drone capability, military readiness and alliances are prepared for the increasingly blurred line between conventional warfare and hybrid threats.
