New restrictions stop drones flying close to MoD sites

Drone pilots will be restricted from flying in the vicinity of select Ministry of Defence (MoD) sites for national security reasons.

The new rules come into effect on February 19, 2026, under The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026.

The restrictions apply to unmanned aircraft unless an exemption or site permission applies. Emergency services, MoD-operated drones, and certain authorised organisations are exempt when operating in accordance with the regulations.

Ministry of Defence sites placed on the MoD Prohibited Place list include HMNB Portsmouth, Abbey Wood, Crombie, and Palace Barracks, among others.

Each site has a defined lateral boundary and a minimum altitude ceiling.

The Statutory Document (2026, No.64) states: 'At the request of the Ministry of Defence, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the areas specified in the Schedule for reasons of national security.'

Requests to operate inside these Restricted Areas can be made by completing and submitting the CAA Airspace Regulation notification form via the CAA Customer Portal - ACOMS. Exemptions, if approved, will be issued by the National Security Act site authority.

For full details, including all of the MoD prohibited sites and full restrictions, click here.