U.S. Tries To Calm Hysteria Over Drones; DOD Focuses On Protection

The U.S. military has deployed additional uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) detection systems to bases in the Northeast as several government agencies maintain that the recent rampant sightings of so-called drones do not pose any threat—and are mostly just normal air traffic.

“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” a joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA and the Pentagon says. “We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast.”

The FBI has received more than 5,000 reported drone sightings over the past few weeks, with about 100 leads generated. The governmental response has included both advanced detection technology and visual observers, who have determined there were no anomalous activities.

“That said, we recognize the concern among many communities. We continue to support state and local authorities with advanced detection technology and support of law enforcement,” the statement says. “We urge Congress to enact counter-UAS legislation when it reconvenes that would extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge.”

Amid the thousands of public sightings of what has largely been normal air traffic, there have been several UAS incursions over U.S. military bases and installations in recent months. This has prompted changes in operations, and brief stoppages of flight operations, at installations across the country and in Europe.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Dec. 17 that the department has sent both active and passive sensing systems to locations including Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey. The Pentagon has also deployed systems to defeat drones, such as the Flex Force Dronebuster, which can sever the connection between a UAS and its operator.

The incursions into military base airspace is not new, government officials say, though it is receiving increased attention amid the rampant coverage of purported mystery drones.

“There are more than 1 million drones lawfully registered with the FAA in the United States and there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones lawfully in the sky on any given day,” the statement says. “With the technology landscape evolving, we expect that number to increase over time.”

The situation is showcasing the difficulties that the Pentagon has to defend its installations against real UAS incursions. Ryder, for example, highlighted the ability of bases abroad such as those in the Middle East to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) on its surroundings to better understand potential threats—something that is not possible at home.

Though there are multiple systems that can be used to shoot down low-level drones, there is also a danger to other air traffic in the area.

In October, Doug Bush, the U.S. Army’s assistant secretary for acquisition, highlighted the need for a policy change as the Pentagon rolled out a new push for counter-UAS systems. The Pentagon needs to work with the FAA on how to use jamming and other electronic warfare capabilities in locations that are close to civilian airspace.

“We can do a lot overseas that you can’t do here,” he says.