Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey
Source: AP
By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI
Updated 12:51 AM EST, December 12, 2024
The large mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security.
In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. The Morris County Republican was among several state and local lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the spate of sightings that range from the New York City area through New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia.
The devices do not appear to be being flown by hobbyists, Fantasia wrote.
Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month and have raised growing concern among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility; and over President-elect Donald Trumps golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-a978470fa3bb07ed3e98c5b7c18f0abb
See previous story here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143354574
orangecrush
(22,122 posts)Sitting off the coast?
EarthFirst
(3,198 posts)OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)Someone apparently wants to gather data which is not readily available from Google Earth (for example) and is willing to gather it at night, using a large number of (seemingly) unnecessarily large/heavy drones. Both the FBI and Homeland Security are claiming ignorance.
Something is going on. This is a large, coordinated use of expensive drones with (apparently) rudimentary stealth technology.
For a couple of years now, Ive been telling people, If you want to see the future of warfare, look at the (latest) invasion of Ukraine. When the Russians first invaded, all of the experts expected Kiev to fall in about 3 days. The chief reason it did not was Ukraines use of drones.
Their latest development has been to turn their naval drones (which they have used to sink battleships!) into miniature aircraft carriers.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/aviation/ukraine-s-changing-up-its-black-sea-attacks-on-russia-with-drone-boats-armed-with-machine-guns-and-flying-exploding-drones/ar-AA1vyCC7
Link to tweet
Think. Again.
(19,046 posts)...seem to be fairly inept.
wolfie001
(3,844 posts)So stupid. Usually, it's an acquaintance that turns those idiots in the and then the FBI pats itself on the back. Exactly what happened in the Unabomber case. FBI handing out stupid, undeserved accolades to their agents when the bomber's brother was the one that turned him in.
Think. Again.
(19,046 posts)...anyone can buy a radio disrupter "drone-jammer" online to take down drones.
So, I suspect they know exactly what they are and are deliberately leaving them alone.
yagotme
(3,951 posts)and are not receiving constant radio instruction. Burst transmission to change flight plan. Advancing technology.
OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)usonian
(14,600 posts)Such a small distinction.
Personally, if I had a drone airforce, I'd be running ground penetrating radar over Bedminster and similar places to find the "treasure"
P.S. It's extremely hard to believe that the AirForce and agencies know nothing. And that they'd let silence indicate that.
Also, if I were president, I'd be raiding Area 51 for all it's worth, and it's worth the survival of America as a democracy.
Grovers Mill? Naah, that's fiction.
OR IS IT?
yagotme
(3,951 posts)and we're REALLY behind the curve. If they know everything, and are doing nothing, then they are either ours, or, belonging to the enemy, and we're just not doing anything about it. Only 1of the 3 above is remotely comforting.
usonian
(14,600 posts)yagotme
(3,951 posts)Or, Insects, MIB style!!!
usonian
(14,600 posts)PortTack
(34,830 posts)OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)However, now, they appear to be spreading. It would be easy to attribute it to a mass hysteria phenomenon
if it werent for the large number of witness videos, and law enforcement witnesses.
Then, theres this:
https://apnews.com/article/britain-us-air-bases-drones-cfb5643bfed2a45be61d107aa063477b
BY DANICA KIRKA
Updated 1:13 PM EST, November 26, 2024
LONDON (AP) The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday that a number of small drones have been detected near four bases in England that are used by American forces.
The flights, which began Nov. 20, were spotted over or near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell in eastern England as well as RAF Fairford in southwestern England. The drones were actively monitored.
The Air Force hasnt identified who is believed to be behind the incursions. Unspecified mitigation measures are underway.
The number of systems has fluctuated, and they have ranged in sizes and configurations, U.S. Air Forces Europe said in a statement. Our units continue to monitor the airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets.″
AntiFascist
(12,976 posts)so they obviously know more than they are telling us.
usonian
(14,600 posts)Bedminster.
As yourself "What would usonian do?"
Not sure about those other places, but I don't have clearances, nor need to know.
AntiFascist
(12,976 posts)while seeking out all of the security vulnerabilities around Bedminster and the surrounding military facilities in preparation for Trump 2.0.
Blues Heron
(6,228 posts)Cant they blast one out of the sky and analyse it? Da fuq - how is this even a question? Are we that vulnerable?
OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)Lets not rain down shrapnel if we can avoid it.
Remember the Chinese spy balloon and the calls to shoot it down? which we did, after it was no longer over land.
Blues Heron
(6,228 posts)OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)BY BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI
Updated 2:55 PM EST, December 12, 2024
TOMS River, N.J. (AP) A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be shot down, if necessary, even as it remains unclear who owns them.
We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if theyre flying over airports or military bases, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill.
People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration.
The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels.
Aussie105
(6,467 posts)How hard is it to follow these things home when they need to land because they are low on fuel?
No foreign spy device would be so polite as to fly with warning light blazing away.
Think. Again.
(19,046 posts)...the my perception of reality is seriously comprised and I live in a dream world.
OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)Think. Again.
(19,046 posts)C0RI0LANUS
(1,862 posts)The USIC and DOD have a wide array of sensors to interrogate these UAPs.
The FAA mandates a green beacon on the starboard side of an aircraft and a red beacon on the portside of an aircraft. I imagine the same holds true to fly a drone over US airspace. Can we see beacons on the drones in the video?
If the FBI is investigating the issue, this means they suspect human involvement in the area (and the potential that federal laws may have been violated).
From what I gather, these drones have not flown over restricted airspace but are flirting with the borders of the security perimeter.
If not, well...
Sources:
https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/21-113_MASINT_Primer__2022.pdf
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap2_section_2.html
DBoon
(23,170 posts)OKIsItJustMe
(21,016 posts)Americans have the unfortunate habit of mocking anything they dont understand, or dont want to understand.
Consider, for example, climate change.