A recent increase in unidentified drone sightings near sensitive government sites has raised concerns among residents and lawmakers. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prohibited drone flights over 22 critical infrastructure locations. The White House insists there is no credible threat to public safety despite these incidents, which have been reported at various military and airport facilities across multiple states and overseas bases.
The FBI has documented over 5,000 drone sightings in the past month, with about 100 of these requiring further investigation. Significant drone activity has occurred at several military installations, including Hill Air Force Base in Utah, where confirmed sightings were reported on December 16. A drone came dangerously close to fuel storage, prompting the base to enhance security measures.
At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, drones violated restricted airspace between December 13 and 17, but no damage or threats were reported. One sighting resulted in the temporary closure of the facility's airfields. In Massachusetts, local police arrested two men for flying a drone near Logan International Airport, while Stewart International Airport in New York had to shut its runways for an hour due to an unidentified drone.
Unobstructed drone flight also occurred at Camp Pendleton in California, with drones breaching restricted airspace six times within a week. In Germany, drones flew over Ramstein Air Base, a key site for NATO and the U. S. military. A Chinese national was arrested in late November for using an unregistered drone to surveil Vandenberg Space Force Base during a sensitive launch.
Reports also indicated drone activity in New Jersey and the UK around military bases. In New Jersey, airspace was closed over Trump National Golf Club following numerous drone sightings. The FAA response to these incidents included a shutdown of surrounding airspace to mitigate the threat.
In a broader context, drones have been observed near military installations like Picatinny Arsenal and Langley Air Force Base, raising alarms about national security. Although the federal government has stated that drones pose no imminent threat, concerns persist regarding their potential use for espionage or attacks on military bases. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas indicated that the federal government lacks the authority to engage drones outside restricted airspace, leaving the responsibility to local law enforcement.
Despite many reported sightings being attributed to hobbyists and misidentifications, some lawmakers believe that a number of the drones may be adversarial in nature, possibly linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Representative Michael McCaul expressed the necessity to identify the origins of these drones, suggesting that their presence over military sites is likely a concern from foreign adversaries.
Overall, these events highlight the need for effective measures to ensure the security of U. S. military installations against potential drone surveillance and threats.
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