America’s enemies are bold. They think they can intimidate us.
Now enemy aircraft were spotted over these US states for one terrifying reason.
A senior official from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has revealed that some of the 350 drones detected flying over military installations and sensitive areas last year may have been engaged in surveillance activities.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), addressed the issue during a Senate Armed Services Committee Budget hearing on Thursday. The drones, which were spotted across the country, were most notably observed in New Jersey, as well as over key military installations like Joint Base Langley, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., pressed Guillot on the potential threat these unmanned aircraft pose to military operations and personnel.
“Senator, the primary threat I see for them in the way they’ve been operating is detection and perhaps surveillance of sensitive capabilities on our installations,” Guillot explained. “There were 350 detections reported last year on military installations, and that was 350 over a total of 100 different installations of all types and levels of security.”
Guillot confirmed that commanders at sensitive sites, such as nuclear bases, have the authority to protect their airspace from unauthorized drone activity. He noted that these high-security installations make up about half of the military’s total facilities.
Cotton expressed disbelief that only half of the nation’s bases have the capability to defend against drone intrusions.
He compared the situation to the ability of base commanders to handle a ground attack. “Base commanders at every base in the U.S. have the ability to protect their ground if a terrorist drove a dump truck through the front gate of a military facility,” Cotton said, to which Guillot agreed.
Cotton further raised concerns about recent reports that Mexican cartels were authorized to deploy drones equipped with explosives against U.S. Border Patrol agents along the southern border.
He questioned whether the Department of Defense needed additional authorization to share drone-related intelligence with the Department of Homeland Security and other border agencies. Guillot confirmed that this was indeed necessary.
The general advocated for enhancing the military’s drone defense capabilities, emphasizing the need to improve base protection and facilitate smoother information-sharing between government agencies.
Meanwhile, the White House sought to downplay some of the drone sightings. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained late last month that the drones observed in large numbers over New Jersey were “authorized by the FAA for research and various other reasons.”
In addition to these authorized drones, hobbyists also contributed to the sightings as public curiosity increased.
Nonetheless, the wave of drone sightings in November and December stirred public concern and drew the attention of law enforcement agencies.
The FBI, along with New Jersey State Police and the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, issued a public request for information regarding drone activity along the Raritan River.
“The FBI Newark, NJ State Police, and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River,” stated an FBI release from Dec. 3.
The Federal Aviation Administration responded by imposing temporary flight restrictions in some areas of New Jersey to curb the unexplained aerial activity.
The situation highlights the growing concerns surrounding drone technology and its implications for national security.
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