British troops preparing for potential conflict with Russia are battling safety and data protection regulations that are hampering drone warfare training. Soldiers have been banned from flying drones over their comrades or using signal-jamming equipment during training on Salisbury Plain, according to two MPs who observed a recent exercise.

Ministry of Defence guidelines prohibit drones weighing more than 250g - roughly the weight of a cucumber - from being flown over people during training, even if they are inside a tank. The MPs also reported that the UK General Data Protection Regulation - and worries about the effect on residents near the training ground - had stopped soldiers from practising electronic warfare, including "hoovering up" signals data to jam drones. They cautioned that stringent rules could leave British troops heading to the Russian border without proper training in modern warfare.

Fred Thomas, a Labour MP on the defence select committee, told the Financial Times: "British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going out without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or in Ukraine."

The current rules aim to prevent drones from being flown close to airports and require approval for any flights over individuals, near structures, or beyond the visual line of sight of the operator.

The widespread availability of inexpensive drones has significantly changed dynamics in the Ukraine war. They are used for artillery targeting and direct strikes, with Ukrainian officials estimating they cause 60 to 80% of battle-related injuries on both sides.

Mr Thomas raised alarms about these strict regulations hampering British soldiers' ability to use the technology, saying some troops have bought drones lineline to conduct jamming experiments.

He said: "They're taking steps to try and protect themselves by going online and buying kit to then tinker around with to see if they can't jam frequencies themselves."

A military source suggested using more secluded regions of the UK, like Salisbury Plain, for signal jamming exercises.

However, "You can't suddenly switch off all the satnavs in Amesbury just because you're learning about electronic warfare", they told the outlet.

A former soldier with knowledge of training restrictions criticised current practices for their lack of realism, claiming that more authentic training could actually save lives, despite causing disruptions.

The MoD said: "We are constantly experimenting with and embracing innovative technology, including in drone warfare.

"To protect operational security and non-military environments, people would also expect us to ensure that electronic warfare capabilities have some restrictions,".