17 October 2024

After almost a year, the Pentagon has owned up to the fact that Langley Air Force Base in Hampton Virginia, was buzzed by a drone swarm for more than two weeks in December 2023. 

At the time, it was determined the drones posed no threat, but the operator—or operators—remain unknown. So, why didn't base defenses shoot them out of the sky?

Interestingly, a federal law prohibits U.S. forces from blasting drones near America's military bases unless the UAVs are confirmed as hostile. Apparently, allowing surveillance by unidentified actors is just fine and dandy—which seems kind of like inviting Dracula into your home.

At present, Langley—which houses tactical jets such as F-22 Raptor stealth fighters—is seeking bids for anti-drone nets to prevent "eyes in the sky" from observing approximately 42 aircraft hangars.

“This is something we have kept our eyes on,” said Defense Department spokesman Sabrina Singh about last year's fly-bys. “Given they were on U.S. soil, there was another level of interagency coordination that needed to take place, and it's something the department is continuing to analyze.”