A report by the Wall Street Journal reveals that mysterious drones have been conducting surveillance over several sensitive US military sites, including the Navy SEAL Team Six base and Naval Station Norfolk, for an extended period. The Pentagon has struggled to respond to these intrusions due to legal and logistical challenges.
The drone activity, which occurred over the past year, involved swarms of drones flying over military bases in Virginia and Nevada.
One notable instance involved Langley Air Force Base, home to the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, where dozens of drones were observed flying over the base at night for 17 consecutive days in December 2023.
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Concerns arose that the drones might be operated by foreign agents, possibly from Russia or China, attempting to gather intelligence on US military assets. However, federal laws and safety concerns prevented the military from shooting down the drones. Jamming their signals was also ruled out due to the potential for disrupting essential communication systems and commercial air traffic.
Efforts to track the drones using traditional methods proved ineffective, and authorities remain uncertain about the origin and operators of the drones. A potential breakthrough occurred in January 2024 when a Chinese student was arrested for flying a drone near Langley Air Force Base and taking photographs of Navy ships. He has since pleaded guilty to espionage charges.
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Despite this arrest, similar drone swarms have been observed near Edwards Air Force Base in Nevada, highlighting the ongoing challenge posed by these unidentified aerial intruders. The Defense Department has yet to publicly identify those responsible for the surveillance operations.
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