BRITAIN’S armed drones have secretly been equipped with a US intelligence-gathering capability called called Outdragon, Drone Wars UK revealed today.

The NGO discovered that MQ-9 Reaper drone missions have been outfitted with US signal intelligence (Sigint) pods since 2019. 

Sigint has been used on US Reaper and Predator drones to geolocate, track and kill individuals via signals from mobile phones, wireless routers and other devices.

Campaigners unearthed the use of the pods after the government published a series of maintenance forms relating to Britain’s new MQ-9 Protector drone.

The Ministry of Defence refused to disclose anything about Outdragon, but acknowledged that a contract had been signed on its procurement worth $2.2 million (£1.7m).

Drone Wars says that the government shies away from releasing statistical information that it used to publish, and that British armed drones are no longer primarily engaged in ongoing armed conflicts but used for “intelligence operations.”

At least twice such operations have led to targeted killings. In Syria in 2021, Britain killed an alleged arms dealer, which local reports suggested resulted in at least two civilian deaths.

In 2022, a British Reaper drone killed an alleged Isis leader in Syria, with local reports suggesting that at least two civilians were injured in the strike.

Drone Wars UK director Chris Cole said the revelations, which come as ministers draw “an even greater veil of secrecy over UK drone operations,” are a “serious concern.”

He said: “British politicians and military officials insisted when armed drones were first acquired that the UK would not follow the US down such a path. Those assurances now look very hollow.

“Ministers must explain the use of Outdragon and other such capabilities and ensure proper public and parliamentary oversight over the use of armed drones.”