Defence Legislation
Laws and policies relating to military operations, defense procurement, armed forces administration, and national security strategy.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gatcombe Park) (Restricted Area EGR1U083) Regulations 2026
The Regulations imposed restrictions on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,700 feet around Gatcombe Park, designating airspace EGR1U083, effective May 14, 2026.
These Regulations establish a temporary restricted airspace zone, designated EGR1U083, around Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, prohibiting unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,700 feet above mean sea level within specified geographic coordinates due to security considerations related to the presence of Royal Family members; these rules came into force on May 14, 2026, and revoke a previous restriction order, while allowing exemptions for specific emergency services and authorized security personnel.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Carr Gate) (Restricted Area EGR3U053) Regulations 2026
The regulations imposed a height restriction on unmanned aircraft operations near the Carr Gate National Police Air Service base and simultaneously revoked the preceding 2025 restriction order.
These 2026 Regulations establish a prohibition on operating unmanned aircraft below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a defined circular area centered at 534238N 0013222W, near the National Police Air Service base at Carr Gate, due to necessary security and public safety considerations; the rules exempt aircraft operated by or on behalf of the National Police Air Service or those flying with their explicit permission, and these rules simultaneously revoke the previous 2025 restriction order for the area.
The legislation restricted unmanned aircraft flights below 1,400 feet in the Firth of Forth area between April 19th and April 24th, 2026, due to Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier operations.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026 enforce a temporary prohibition on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined area of the Firth of Forth, commencing at 0100 hours UTC on April 19, 2026, and ending at 2300 hours UTC on April 24, 2026, specifically to accommodate the necessary operations of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier, with exemptions provided for authorized military, police, fire/rescue, or coastguard activities.
The Secretary of State revoked the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026, immediately ending specified flight limitations over RAF Brize Norton.
These Regulations revoke the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026, immediately lifting previous temporary flight restrictions imposed over the area surrounding the Royal Air Force Brize Norton base because the Secretary of State no longer deems those restrictions necessary in the public interest.
The regulations established a temporary ban on low-level civilian flying near RAF Brize Norton on May 29, 2026, to facilitate planned flying displays.
These regulations impose a precise, temporary restriction on aircraft flying below Flight Level 85 within a 6-nautical-mile radius centered on the Royal Air Force Brize Norton on 29th May 2026, between 1400 and 1500 hours UTC, specifically to ensure public safety during scheduled flying displays, exempting only essential emergency services and authorized operational air traffic movements.
The Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition, and Consequential and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2026
Defined family eligibility and transferred Service Complaints Ombudsman functions to the new Armed Forces Commissioner.
These Regulations establish the legal definition of 'relevant family members' eligible to interact with the Armed Forces Commissioner and manage the transfer of functions from the Service Complaints Ombudsman to the Commissioner.
Effective 1 April 2026, the instrument replaces references to the Ombudsman with the Commissioner across existing service complaint and labor regulations, including the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.
It applies to individuals subject to service law in the UK and their defined relatives, ensuring that pending cases and prior decisions are transitioned to the new office.
The Secretary of State designated numerous military vessels as protected under the 1986 Act, established new controlled sites, extended existing protected zones, and revoked the previous 2019 designation Order.
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State, exercises powers under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 to formally designate specific sunken military vessels and define surrounding maritime areas as 'controlled sites,' thereby applying legal protection against disturbance to these remains; it names numerous additional vessels for designation, extends the protected radii for certain existing sites, and revokes the previous designation Order from 2019.
The Regulations imposed temporary restrictions on flying below 8,000 feet near RAF Coningsby on March 16, 2026, for Red Arrows display rehearsals.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Coningsby) Regulations 2026 impose a temporary prohibition on aircraft flying below 8,000 feet above mean sea level within a 6 nautical mile radius centred at 530534N 0001000W, specifically between 1230 and 1330 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time on March 16, 2026.
This measure is enacted by the Secretary of State for Transport in the public interest to ensure safety during flying display rehearsals conducted by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, while permitting exceptions for aircraft authorized by designated Air Traffic Control units.