Spy Drones Invade Langley Air Base, Pentagon Struggles to Respond
Despite a 50% increase in defense spending since the dawn of the 21st century, the Pentagon is grappling with the challenge of defending against the rising threat of spy drones within US borders. This year's budget has surpassed $841 billion, making America the world's largest military spender.
Drone Invasion at Sensitive National-Security Sites
According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, a swarm of spy drones invaded some of the most sensitive national-security sites in America, including the Langley Air Force Base on Virginia's coast, late last year.
Over several nights, military personnel reported an unexplained violation of restricted airspace over an area with one of the highest concentrations of national-security facilities in the US. The invasion typically began 45 minutes to an hour after sunset.
The first drone, estimated to be about 20 feet long and flying at over 100 miles per hour at an altitude of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 feet, arrived shortly after. More drones followed, their distant sounds reminiscent of a procession of lawn mowers. The drones then headed south, across Chesapeake Bay, towards Norfolk, Va., an area that includes the home base for the Navy's SEAL Team Six and Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval port.
US Air Force General Stumped by Drone Reports
US Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly expressed confusion over the reports of spy drones over Langley AFB. The Journal reported that the drones flew around the base and other highly sensitive military installations in the region at night for just over two weeks. Some officials suspected that Russian or Chinese agents were behind the aerial spy operations.
Kelly reported that some drones were about 20 feet long and flew over 100 mph at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. None of these drones were shot down due to federal laws prohibiting the military from deploying F-22s, F-35s, and other fighter jets to neutralize drones for 'aerial snooping' unless these unmanned systems posed an 'imminent threat.'
President Biden Briefed on National Security Threat
President Biden was briefed on the national security threat shortly after the spy drones first appeared in the Chesapeake Bay region. Officials from the Defense Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pentagon's UFO office consulted with outside experts to comprehend the severity of the situation.
The WSJ reported that Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall discussed with other White House officials the possibility of deploying anti-drone guns to jam signals. However, this idea was not implemented due to fears of disrupting local civilian communication networks. Another potential countermeasure, directed energy weapons, was also not deployed due to concerns about damaging commercial jets.
Authorities largely dismissed the idea that the drones were operated by amateur pilots.
Chinese Student Arrested for Drone Footage
In early January, a Chinese student attending the University of Minnesota was apprehended for flying a drone near Langley AFB. The FBI discovered that the student had drone footage of Navy ships docked at the base. He was arrested and charged with unlawfully taking photos of classified naval installations after attempting to leave the country.
Bottom Line
The drone invasion highlights a significant display of incompetence by the military and federal government. While those in power focus on a controversial "woke" agenda, the nation's internal strength appears to be weakening. What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you believe the government is doing enough to counter these threats? Share this article with your friends and let us know what you think. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered every day at 6pm.
