WASHINGTON — Over 5,000 drone sightings in recent weeks have fascinated and alarmed East Coast residents, but similar incidents have long been common at sensitive U.S. military locations throughout the nation, as stated by defense officials.

Drone incursions at remote military sites have reportedly occurred hundreds or even thousands of times, garnering little public attention. However, these incidents have disturbed critical operations, as shared by Pentagon officials who asked to remain anonymous while discussing sensitive military actions.

A significant worry is that foreign enemies have spotted a “gap” in the U.S. response to drone surveillance. U.S. military personnel can take action against drones that enter the airspace of a base and pose a threat. They have the authority to shoot them down or disrupt their navigational systems using radio jamming.

Once a drone leaves that airspace, however, it falls under local law enforcement’s jurisdiction. In many of the vast, remote areas surrounding military bases, the response from local authorities is often inadequate and delayed, according to a Defense official involved in managing such incidents.

Another senior official pointed out that the Pentagon has been too slow to respond to this growing threat. This individual suggested a method for handling unidentified drones: neutralize them, secure them in a bag, and analyze them for information about their origin and purpose.

Indeed, the Air Force has employed such tactics. According to Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokesperson, personnel have “taken down” drones over recent years, but she refrained from sharing specific details due to operational security concerns.

Nevertheless, legal issues and concerns about debris causing injury or damage on the ground have hindered the military’s response.

While the military is equipped with a solid air defense system against potential hijacked planes, this is not the case for drones, noted David Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and a retired three-star Air Force general.

“Just as airliners were not considered a threat before 9/11, we must acknowledge the possible dangers posed by drones, which are increasingly being used for military endeavors and hostile acts worldwide,” he stated.

On Monday, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, alongside the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration, released a joint statement, urging Congress to pass laws that would broaden existing authorities to counter drone threats.

The statement also downplayed the recent drone scare, explaining that most reports involved lawful commercial, hobbyist, or law enforcement drones, as well as manned aircraft and helicopters. In fact, some stars were even mistakenly reported as drones.

However, lawmakers are taking notice as well—members of the House Intelligence Committee received a private briefing about the situation on Tuesday.

Why Drone Threats Matter: Perspectives from the Military and Lawmakers

Spy drones could gather sensitive data regarding U.S. military operations and potentially alert adversaries about future movements. For instance, aerial surveillance could reveal ammunition transfers as the Pentagon prepares for a conflict or provide live footage of Special Forces’ rapid response from Fort Liberty.

In recent years, an influx of drones disrupted a military exercise location, leading U.S. Northern Command to postpone the initiative, as confirmed by an official.

A drone hovering roughly 200 feet above a military installation can capture much clearer images of military assets than satellites or other aerial technologies, according to Deptula. Last year, mysterious waves of drones may have targeted F-22 fighters, the most advanced aircraft in the Air Force arsenal, over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, added Deptula.

“Getting up close to those aircraft allows you to see and analyze designs and features that might not be visible from a satellite perspective,” he noted.

Other crucial targets that adversarial drones could surveil include the U.S. electrical grid and telecommunications infrastructure. An enemy could attempt to identify key components in the power distribution systems and how they operate, he suggested.

Where Are Drone Sightings Occurring?

The joint statement released on Monday acknowledged that drones have entered restricted airspace over military facilities in New Jersey and other locations. In New Jersey, some were seen above the Picatinny Arsenal, an extensive Army-owned weapons research and development facility spanning nearly 6,000 acres.

Other instances of drone incursions have been reported at White Sands Missile Range, according to military sources.

The Army has a unique testing facility for long-range missiles, explosives, and artillery, known as the only land range of its kind in the United States. This expansive area measures 100 miles in length and 40 miles in width, spanning across New Mexico and Texas. Its airspace is exclusively governed by the Pentagon, making it one of just two locations in the nation where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not hold authority. The other location that falls under this category is the White House.

According to officials, drones have been detected flying over Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and there are concerns that unmanned boats have also been used to monitor U.S. Navy installations.

What Actions Can Be Taken Against Drones?

In cases where a drone is classified as a threat, military officials have various “active and passive” strategies available to address the situation. These can include deploying their own drones to intercept the threat, redirecting the unidentified drone, or disrupting its navigation signals, as explained by Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, during a press briefing.

Ryder mentioned that both Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, another military base in New Jersey where drones were spotted, have been equipped with additional tools for detecting and defending against drones, such as Dronebusters—a handheld device designed to jam drone communications.

These techniques are part of a recent strategy aimed at “countering” drones, which was officially adopted by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this month.

While the detailed strategy remains classified, its purpose is to enhance the military’s capacity to detect and monitor drones while clearly defining responsibilities for neutralizing a threat, according to Pentagon sources.

It’s important to note that the military’s authority to track and engage drones over bases within the United States differs significantly from its capabilities overseas or in combat scenarios.

“We do not gather intelligence on American citizens,” Ryder emphasized.

Drones have previously been responsible for fatalities at U.S. military installations overseas. For instance, in January, a drone struck Tower 22, a U.S. base in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of three American soldiers and injuring over 40 others. The attack involved a one-way drone programmed to hit a specific target without requiring guidance during flight.

This ongoing issue of drone surveillance is reminiscent of the Chinese spy balloon incident that captured national attention in 2023.

The Pentagon kept track of the balloon, which was equipped with surveillance technology, as it crossed over several critical military locations across the U.S. An F-22 fighter jet ultimately intercepted and shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina, only days after it first entered U.S. airspace near Alaska.