Friday, October 18, 2024
Dozens of unidentified drones have breached sensitive US military bases in Virginia and Nevada, sparking national security concerns and prompting Pentagon officials to seek new measures to counter the mysterious drone incursions.
Dozens of unidentified drones have been spotted flying over sensitive US military bases in Virginia and Nevada, sparking concerns about national security and espionage. The drones have been seen flying over Naval Station Norfolk and the Navy's SEAL Team Six commando unit.
According to reports, the drones have been flying over the bases for approximately 17 nights, with some sightings occurring as recently as December 2023. The incidents have been described as "a puzzling and potentially threatening series of drone sightings" that have left defense officials baffled.
Federal laws have prevented the Pentagon from taking action and shooting down the drones due to concerns that debris from the drones could harm Americans if it fell to the ground. Additionally, discussions about jamming the signal of the mysterious drones were ruled out due to concerns about interference with local emergency systems and commercial flights.
Gen Glen VanHerck has advised Defense Department Secretary Lloyd Austin to have teams eavesdrop on the mysterious drones and other flying objects. "If there are unknown objects within North America," VanHerck said, adding that the goal is “to go out and identify them.”
In a related incident, Chinese national Fengyun Shi was arrested and pleaded guilty to espionage after being caught flying a drone near a shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. The drone contained photographs of naval vessels taken during the night.
The mysterious drone sightings have underscored the growing challenge of defending against increasingly advanced and covert drone incursions on US soil.