Unknown drones breach US military bases, baffle defense officials

US national security officials are grappling with a puzzling and potentially threatening series of drone sightings over key military sites, including Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and the Nevada Nuclear Security Site. Since late 2023, dozens of unidentified drones have breached restricted airspace, raising alarms among top military commanders and prompting high-level discussions in Washington, D.C.

The first of these incidents occurred in December 2023, when US Air Force General Mark Kelly witnessed multiple unidentified drones flying over Langley Air Force Base. The drones, estimated to be around 20 feet in length, moved at over 100 miles per hour and at altitudes of 3,000-4,000 feet, the Wall Street Journal reports. The sightings began around 45 minutes after sunset and continued for 17 nights, with the drones making repeated flights south towards Norfolk, Virginia — home to Naval Station Norfolk and the Navy’s elite SEAL Team Six.

Officials initially speculated whether the drone fleet could be the work of hobbyists or hostile foreign powers, possibly from Russia or China. However, the complexity and coordination of the drone flights suggested a more sophisticated operation. Despite extensive efforts by the US military, including deploying aircraft to gather intelligence and recalibrating radar systems, the drones remained elusive. The situation was complicated further by federal laws that restrict the military’s ability to shoot down drones unless they pose an immediate threat.

The news of drone incursions then reached the White House, prompting two weeks of emergency meetings. The use of electronic jamming to disrupt the drones’ navigation was considered, but concerns about interference with local emergency systems and commercial flights led to a cautious approach. Directed energy weapons and other high-tech countermeasures were also discussed but deemed too risky.

In January, a potential lead emerged when Fengyun Shi, a Chinese national and University of Minnesota student, was caught flying a drone near a shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, close to the Langley base. Shi’s drone, which he claimed was accidentally stuck in a tree, later fell into the hands of the FBI, revealing photographs of naval vessels taken during the night. Despite Shi’s insistence that he was a hobbyist, authorities arrested him on charges of unlawfully photographing classified naval installations. He pleaded guilty and received a six-month prison sentence in October.

While Shi’s actions raised suspicions, US officials could not conclusively link him to the broader drone swarms observed over Langley. The Pentagon remains stumped about the origin and purpose of these mysterious aircraft, which vanished as suddenly as they had appeared on December 23, 2023. The drone sightings underscore the growing challenge of defending against increasingly advanced and covert drone incursions on US soil — a task that differs significantly from using such technology in overseas military operations.

Meanwhile, the mystery continues to deepen. In recent months, similar swarms of unidentified drones have reportedly been sighted near Edwards Air Force Base in California, adding to the concerns of national security experts. As Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, put it: “This isn’t a tomorrow problem, this is a today problem… It’s not an over-there problem — it’s an over-there, over-here, and everywhere problem.”

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