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BumRushDaShow

(144,187 posts)
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:11 AM Saturday

Drones continue to buzz over US bases. The military isn't sure why or how to stop them

Source: CNN Politics

Published 5:00 AM EST, Sat December 21, 2024


CNN — A series of drone sightings over military bases across the country has renewed concerns that the US doesn’t have clear government-wide policy for how to deal with unauthorized incursions that could potentially pose a national security threat.

“We’re one year past Langley drone incursions and almost two years past the PRC spy balloon. Why don’t we have a single [point of contact] who is responsible for coordination across all organizations in the government to address this?” the recently retired head of US Northern Command and NORAD, Gen. Glen VanHerck, told CNN. “Instead, everybody’s pointing their fingers at each other saying it’s not our responsibility.”

Indeed, there have been multiple instances of drone incursions over military bases since mysterious drone swarms were spotted around Joint Base Langley-Eustis and other sensitive military sites in Virginia last year, and since a Chinese spy balloon transited the continental US in 2023.

Over a period of six days earlier this month, there were six instances of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, entering the airspace of the Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton in California, a spokesperson confirmed to CNN, adding that they posed “no threat to installation operations and no impact to air and ground operations.” There have also been incidents in the last month at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey; Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey; and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/21/politics/drones-us-military-bases/index.html

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Drones continue to buzz over US bases. The military isn't sure why or how to stop them (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Saturday OP
Who ya gonna call? Dennis Donovan Saturday #1
They are using what I posted here BumRushDaShow Saturday #2
I believe they know more than they are saying. mackdaddy Saturday #3
They hysteria seems to be dying down FredGarvin Saturday #4
Dont they literally have things for that? ColinC Saturday #5
We can shoot down a fighter jet or a missile and we can't knockdown a toy plane? Jam the doc03 Saturday #6
And what happens if the debris lands on a kid riding their bike? BumRushDaShow Saturday #7
I am 76 and still ride a bike, second childhood, I guess. I see your point. nt doc03 Saturday #9
Not 2nd childhood BumRushDaShow Saturday #11
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Saturday #22
Ummmm BumRushDaShow Saturday #28
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Sunday #34
Just like was done with those suspected Chinese balloons (and most likely what ended up as a hobbyist balloon) BumRushDaShow Sunday #35
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Sunday #37
Control frequencies have not been discovered. LastDemocratInSC Sunday #30
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Sunday #38
shoot them down - This is a national security threat! onetexan Saturday #8
Sounds like we need a new Military. You know, one that knows what the fuck to do RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Saturday #10
The AF gets $216B in the budget but can't do anything about some DJI drones I guess Bengus81 Sunday #36
This reminds me of the gun situation in a way. It takes something awful happening for anything to get done about it. Vinca Saturday #12
Enlighten us: What awful thing happened that changed the gun situation in America? AZ8theist Saturday #24
True. I guess I'm just trying to point out the idiocy of it all. Vinca Sunday #32
Yup, me too..... AZ8theist Sunday #33
So now at least they're admitting that these drones are a problem FakeNoose Saturday #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Saturday #21
It's not that easy... AZ8theist Saturday #27
Doesn't Linda ladeewolf Saturday #14
my thoughts exactly et tu Saturday #16
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Saturday #23
Who to call? BidenRocks Saturday #15
Maybe it's time for a anti-drone airforce, that is, make long-duration drones capable of chasing after these errant SWBTATTReg Saturday #17
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Saturday #20
Really? The technology to jam signals exists IzzaNuDay Saturday #18
No doubt on the 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz bands just like wireless internet Bengus81 Sunday #39
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Saturday #19
Makes a person feel really secure HighFired49 Saturday #25
When did Uncle Sam get to be this dumb? Hekate Saturday #26
I'm hoping snot Saturday #29
And drones are being placed in taxidermy birds. The US skies are a Wild West of unregulated flying contraptions. C0RI0LANUS Sunday #31

Dennis Donovan

(27,401 posts)
1. Who ya gonna call?
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:28 AM
Saturday

Dronebusters!

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So, why aren't they using these to knock them down and ID them?

BumRushDaShow

(144,187 posts)
2. They are using what I posted here
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:44 AM
Saturday
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3358072

What to know about the 'special drone-detection tech' requested for N.J. and N.Y.

Dec. 16, 2024, 1:04 PM EST
By Daniel Arkin

(snip)

In early October 2023, Robin announced it had joined a group of organizations working on the development of the world’s most advanced weather radar, known as PHARA. The group’s mission is to “develop a fully 3D weather radar that can accurately track the movement and growth process of cloud particles and large-scale weather fronts.”

“Detecting small objects is what we do, and it’s what we do best,” the company says on its website. “Bird, bat, or drone, our 360° radar systems log thousands of observations, scanning every second to track and classify with precision.”

Robin’s systems have been used in at least one notable military context, too. In early August, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced it had purchased 51 drone radars from the company and planned to donate them to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces attempt to fend off Russia’s aerial assault.

In a news release announcing the purchase, Robin explained that “traditional radar systems are typically stationary, mounted on fixed platforms like buildings or tripods.” But the Robin-produced radar systems have “on-the-move” functionality, allowing them to “perform even when mounted on mobile objects, like vehicles or ships.” “Robin’s 3D drone detection radars … are designed with the explicit purpose of detecting small, fast and elusive drones,” the company said.

(snip)




The military or LEO might use jammers if something is flying over a base or a sensitive area like, um, a prison yard as there have been many reports of criminals "dropping contraband" like cell phones and drugs into prison complexes. But if a civilian brings something down (especially a larger one) over a populated neighborhood and it crashes into the roof of a house, then good luck in court.

Why people like to joke about this attributing it to "mass hysteria about UFOs" and other nonsense when you have shit like this going on, is beyond me -



mackdaddy

(1,618 posts)
3. I believe they know more than they are saying.
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:51 AM
Saturday

Drones have been a big issue for over a decade, and with the use of small drones dropping grenades in Ukraine and even B-movies about using drones as an assassination attempt 'Angle has Fallen' in 2019.



So they have a lot more ways of tracking them and dealing with them. Or maybe they can hire the 'net a deer from a helicopter' guys.

doc03

(36,954 posts)
6. We can shoot down a fighter jet or a missile and we can't knockdown a toy plane? Jam the
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 09:43 AM
Saturday

controller frequency.

BumRushDaShow

(144,187 posts)
7. And what happens if the debris lands on a kid riding their bike?
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 10:00 AM
Saturday

I expect they ARE jamming any over restricted air space but I think this is emphasizing the bigger issue of basically "unregulated" things flying around the sky "below radar", with the idiotic assumption that the operators are all "good citizens", "follow the rules", and are not out to commit crimes.

But this is also exposing a big loophole with the need for developing some kind of processes or procedures for how "state/county/local" LEO can handle these - particularly if one might encounter them buzz-buzzing around an above-ground power substation (remember the idiots who were shooting at the equipment in some of those substations and actually causing damage and others vandalizing a substation causing a fire?).

BumRushDaShow

(144,187 posts)
11. Not 2nd childhood
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 10:27 AM
Saturday

but good, non-weight bearing aerobic exercise!

I posted upthread about how criminals have been using them to do "drug drops" into prison complexes. Some of those are the "larger" (although not the "fixed wing" ) types because they are carrying stuff.

(the below was from over a year ago)

Response to BumRushDaShow (Reply #7)

Response to BumRushDaShow (Reply #28)

BumRushDaShow

(144,187 posts)
35. Just like was done with those suspected Chinese balloons (and most likely what ended up as a hobbyist balloon)
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 12:50 PM
Sunday

they would wait to do any jamming or "shooting down" once the object moves out over an open area or water.

Response to BumRushDaShow (Reply #35)

Response to LastDemocratInSC (Reply #30)

10. Sounds like we need a new Military. You know, one that knows what the fuck to do
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 10:23 AM
Saturday

with the damned things.

Vinca

(51,233 posts)
12. This reminds me of the gun situation in a way. It takes something awful happening for anything to get done about it.
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 10:30 AM
Saturday

Maybe a drone will bring down a jet full of people. A bird can do it, why not a drone? Maybe one will crash into a reservoir and taint a town's water supply. Just like guns, every Tom, Dick and lunatic shouldn't be allowed to fly a drone.

AZ8theist

(6,555 posts)
24. Enlighten us: What awful thing happened that changed the gun situation in America?
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:22 PM
Saturday

I can't think of anything. Other than more "thoughts and prayers"....

FakeNoose

(36,001 posts)
13. So now at least they're admitting that these drones are a problem
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 10:43 AM
Saturday

There needs to be some emergency directive that it's OKAY to bring these unmanned aircraft down. Either shoot them down or throw a Spiderman-style net over them and drag them down. The military base security should have more tools at their disposal.

Response to FakeNoose (Reply #13)

AZ8theist

(6,555 posts)
27. It's not that easy...
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:35 PM
Saturday

..to "shoot them down".
I've watched countless hours of the Ukraine war footage and drones are extremely effective in evading contact due to their high mobility. Add in multiple targets and you've got a mess on your hands.

My question is who is behind this ...China? Curious how these incursions are occuring at military bases.
Testing our defenses??

Linda ladeewolf

(492 posts)
14. Doesn't
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:20 PM
Saturday

Kimball Musk own a drone company as well? Nova something or other. I’m wondering if this isn’t the emergency being created for trump to use.

et tu

(1,894 posts)
16. my thoughts exactly
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 04:45 PM
Saturday

hope joe appoints a good knowledgeable person or group to handle this before
cf45 awards it to leon musk's brother- more grifting, less governance.

Response to Linda ladeewolf (Reply #14)

SWBTATTReg

(24,332 posts)
17. Maybe it's time for a anti-drone airforce, that is, make long-duration drones capable of chasing after these errant
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 05:22 PM
Saturday

drones and either ID'ing them and/or stopping them in their tracks, by employing methods to stop them in their flight paths. W/ them over controlled air corridors over sensitive US military bases, shoot them down if they are not ID'ed.

Response to SWBTATTReg (Reply #17)

IzzaNuDay

(686 posts)
18. Really? The technology to jam signals exists
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:01 PM
Saturday

obviously there is some ground to air signaling to the drones. Definitely traceable and possible jammable.

hire some teenage hackers to retrieve the drones from mid-air…

Bengus81

(7,494 posts)
39. No doubt on the 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz bands just like wireless internet
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 01:13 PM
Sunday

I've seen vids of people flying them several miles,it would about have to be on the 2.4 band like many doorbells and wireless internet.

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

HighFired49

(391 posts)
25. Makes a person feel really secure
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:24 PM
Saturday

The USA seems to be masters at going all over the world getting involved in every scrap that is not in our territory, but let there be obvious issues over our own country and.............nada. No one seems to be in command, or the ones who are don't know what to do to protect us. Thank goodness the drones don't SEEM to be carrying conventional weapons, but they could be carrying bioweapons, etc. Come on, enough is enough. We want answers!

snot

(10,798 posts)
29. I'm hoping
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 08:54 PM
Saturday

it's space aliens standing by in case needed to avert nuclear war, and that they're standing by in Israel, Russia, and elsewhere as well.

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