Worldwide drone war against US bases
An interactive map has revealed a disturbing pattern in drone sightings across the US.
An unexplained drone invasion has targeted America's military bases worldwide since October, beginning with a swarm over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
The pattern became evident when similar activity was reported over New Jersey's Picatinny Arsenal on November 18.
Less than one week later, US bases in England and Germany began grappling with incursions by 'small unmanned aerial systems.'
Back in America sightings were gaining traction. 'Multiple' instances of drones appeared over New Jersey's Navy weapons station, and Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base closed its airspace due to similar activity on December 13.
The list of affected bases continues to grow, with one in Texas joining the ranks after drones were spotted on December 18.
In White Settlement —home to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and Lockheed Martin—residents and police officers observed drones flying in formation about 100 feet in the air, sometimes hovering in groups of six.
Christopher Cook, police chief in White Settlement, said: 'We haven't seen the formation of drones like that before.'
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While the White House said drones have long been infiltrating airspace over bases, none have appeared to gain the attention of those witnessed in the last few months.
The sightings started at Langley Air Force base when top Pentagon officials were baffled by a swarm of mystery drones that carried on for 17 days.
One or two fixed-wing drones flew more than 100 feet in the air as smaller quadcopters, the size of 20 commercial drones, flew slower and below them and occasionally hovered.
They were preceded by a drone estimated to be 20 feet long and flying 100 miles per hour at altitudes up to 4,000 feet.
The drones were nearly impossible to catch, despite the Air Force's vast resources, according to Gen. Mark Kelly, a decorated senior commander at the airbase.
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From November 20 to 26, 'small unmanned aerial systems' were spotted in the vicinity of and over three US bases Norfolk and Suffolk counties, England: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell.
Just two weeks later, unidentified drones were spotted over the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany on December 3 and 4.
About ten days later, the Joint Staff of the Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County stated they were aware of reports of drones entering the base's airspace, though the exact timing of the incursions is unknown.
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The drones appear to be on reconnaissance missions. None have engaged in attacks on the US bases. There is no indication of what country is behind the drone operations but the size of the drones suggests they are too costly for hobbyists. My guess is that they are likely operated by the Chinese or Russia. They may be an attempt to get more detail on the bases than they were getting from their satellites. The drones probably could be downed by US missiles but that could become an expensive operation to take down cheap drones.
See also:
Mystery as radioactive shipment goes missing in New Jersey amid drone invasion
And:
New Jersey residents say they're suffering alarming symptoms after encounters with drones
And:
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