Pentagon Baffled by 17-Day Drone Swarm at US Military Base

Original article here

A swarm of mysterious drones buzzed a US military base for over two weeks, leaving officials scrambling for answers. The incident, reported by the Wall Street Journal, highlights growing concerns about drone incursions and the challenges of countering them on American soil.

The Mystery Drone Invasion

In December last year, unidentified drones began appearing nightly over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. For 17 straight days, they flew patterns over some of America’s most sensitive military installations.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly witnessed the spectacle firsthand. He described seeing drones roughly 20 feet long, flying at over 100 mph at 3,000-4,000 feet. Smaller quadcopters accompanied them, buzzing “like a parade of lawn mowers.”

The drones followed a consistent route, arriving from the north around 6 pm, traversing the base, and heading south over Chesapeake Bay towards Norfolk – home to Naval Station Norfolk and SEAL Team Six.

“They repeated the pattern and then disappeared, typically by midnight,” officials noted.

Failed Attempts to Stop the Drones

Military and law enforcement tried various tactics to halt the incursions. Coast Guard ships attempted to spot the drones, but without success. Local Police chased them by car and on foot. Officials considered jamming their navigation systems, and some even proposed using directed energy weapons or nets to disable them.

But federal law restricts the military from shooting down drones over US soil unless they pose an imminent threat. The incidents reached President Biden, triggering two weeks of White House meetings.

“What would the U.S. do,” Gen. Kelly asked, “if this happens over the National Mall?”

A Puzzling Pattern

The drone operations showed a level of sophistication that ruled out hobbyists. They flew in formation with larger fixed-wing drones over 100 feet up and smaller quadcopters below. The smaller drones didn’t use typical commercial drone frequencies. Perhaps most puzzling, they could evade tracking despite extensive military resources deployed to catch them.

“U.S. officials didn’t believe hobbyists were flying the drones, given the complexity of the operation,” the report states.

Some officials suspected Russia or China might be testing US defenses. But after 17 days, the drones suddenly stopped appearing, leaving more questions than answers.

A Surprise Twist

In January, authorities caught a break when they arrested Fengyun Shi, a University of Minnesota student. Shi was caught flying a drone near a shipyard that builds nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers.

FBI agents found photos of Navy vessels on Shi’s drone, including nighttime shots. However, investigators found no link to the Chinese government. Shi claimed to be a ship enthusiast who accidentally flew into restricted airspace.

While Shi pleaded guilty to unlawfully photographing classified installations, officials don’t believe he was behind the larger drone swarm at Langley.

Growing Concerns

The Langley incident isn’t isolated. In October 2023, five drones flew over a nuclear weapons site in Nevada. More recently, drone swarms were spotted near Edwards Air Force Base in California.

“This isn’t a tomorrow problem, this is a today problem,” said Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “It’s not an over-there problem—it’s an over-here and everywhere problem.”

The events highlight the challenges of defending against small drones on US soil. While drones have become effective military tools abroad, countering them at home risks endangering civilians.

DroneXL’s Take

These incidents underscore the pressing need for better drone detection and mitigation systems at sensitive sites. While drones pose potential security risks, they’re also invaluable for many positive applications.

Recent DroneXL coverage has highlighted how drones aid in disaster response, infrastructure inspection, and even medical deliveries. The challenge lies in balancing security concerns with the benefits of Drone Technology.

As drone capabilities advance, so too must our ability to differentiate between legitimate uses and potential threats. This may require updating laws and investing in new counter-drone technologies that can effectively and safely neutralize rogue drones.