Mind the drone gap: war games begin inside secret Nato bunker in London tube station
British soldiers conducted a military exercise called 'Arrcade Strike' in a secret NATO bunker located in Charing Cross underground station. The exercise simulated a defense scenario against a potential Russian invasion of Estonia in 2030, highlighting the current shortfall of drones in the British military. The British army is reportedly 80-90% short of the drones needed for effective operations, prompting discussions on military funding and modernization.
- ▪The exercise took place in a disused section of the Jubilee line at Charing Cross station.
- ▪British military officials estimate that the army would run out of drones in less than a week in a full-scale conflict.
- ▪The command center can transmit 10 terabytes of data daily, equivalent to three months of Netflix.
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British soldiers carry out exercise ‘Arrcade Strike’ in a makeshift command post on a disused line at Charing Cross underground station. Photograph: Richard Pohle/Times/WPAView image in fullscreenBritish soldiers carry out exercise ‘Arrcade Strike’ in a makeshift command post on a disused line at Charing Cross underground station. Photograph: Richard Pohle/Times/WPAMilitaryMind the drone gap: war games begin inside secret Nato bunker in London tube stationBritish army is 80-90% short of drones as military exercise aims to build on European defence startegyDan Sabbagh Defence and security editorFri 22 May 2026 08.24 EDTLast modified on Fri 22 May 2026 08.29 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleDeep in Charing Cross underground station, in the disused terminus of the Jubilee line, a secret…
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