There’s countless enemies who want to target the United States. They’ll do anything to get a leg up on America.
And Pentagon officials are in panic mode over a report of spying on U.S. military bases.
A senior official from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has raised concerns that some of the 350 drones detected flying over military sites and sensitive areas last year may have been engaged in surveillance operations
During a Senate Armed Services Committee budget hearing, U.S. Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of both NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), was pressed about the implications of these drone incursions.
Reports indicate that drones were observed across the country throughout the past year, with particularly high activity in New Jersey. They were also detected over key military installations, such as Joint Base Langley, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., questioned Guillot on the threat posed by these drones to military operations, personnel, and facilities.
“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 responded.
“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 high-security sites, such as nuclear bases, are authorized to protect their airspace from drone incursions. He noted that such installations account for roughly half of all U.S. military bases.
Cotton expressed frustration that only about half of military bases have measures in place to counter drone threats. He pointed out that base commanders across the U.S. are equipped to defend against ground threats, such as a terrorist driving a truck through the front gate, a point Guillot acknowledged.
Concerns over drone threats extend beyond military bases. Cotton referenced reports that Mexican cartels were allegedly authorized to deploy drones armed with explosives against U.S. Border Patrol agents just last week.
He further inquired whether the Department of Defense needed authorization to share drone incursion data with the Department of Homeland Security and other border agencies.
Guillot confirmed that such authorization was required, advocating for military capabilities in countering drones and enhancing data-sharing across government agencies.
Meanwhile, the White House addressed public concerns regarding the numerous drone sightings in New Jersey. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the drones were “authorized by the FAA for research and various other reasons.”
In addition to FAA-sanctioned drones, hobbyist-operated drones contributed to the surge in sightings, fueled by growing curiosity. “This was not the enemy,” Leavitt assured reporters.
Despite these assurances, the large-scale drone activity in November and December prompted federal and state authorities to take notice.
“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,” the FBI stated on December 3.
In response to the unusual number of drone flights, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions, prohibiting the operation of drones over sections of New Jersey.
As concerns mount over the potential surveillance and security threats posed by drones, lawmakers and military officials continue to push for stronger countermeasures and interagency cooperation to safeguard sensitive military sites and national security.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
