Staff Reports
The skies over sensitive American military sites have become the latest playground for unidentified drone swarms, and the response from the Biden administration may as well include a “Welcome to the Jungle” soundtrack. In recent months, Langley Air Force Base in Virginia has caught the attention of these aerial intruders, who decided to hold a buzzing marathon for 17 consecutive evenings. One has to wonder if the drones were hoping for a military welcome party or if they mistook Langley for a local flight park.
The situation escalated so dramatically that Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly described the drones as being about 20 feet long, resembling something out of a sci-fi movie and capable of zipping through the air at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. These drones didn’t seem to have their eyes set solely on Langley, having enough energy left over to jet over to Naval Station Norfolk after their initial rendezvous. Is this a new trend of airborne trespassers or just a bunch of bored UAV enthusiasts? Regardless, the lack of action from the Biden administration begs the question: what exactly is going on in the White House?
These large mystery drones flew over Langley Air Force Base 10 months ago stumping the Pentagon, according to a new report. https://t.co/8ifjunDbFN pic.twitter.com/ZXZH9RMH58
— ❣️Anne❣️ (@USA_Anne711) October 13, 2024
With military protocols standing in the way, it seems that the drones have a sort of VIP pass to hover over military bases. The military can’t simply shoot them down unless there’s a visible threat, which means these robotic invaders can dance around the skies with impunity. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a policy that prioritizes national security over some elaborate legal loophole? General Glen VanHerck remarked that these kinds of aerial shenanigans have been going on for years, but this Langley episode was in a league of its own, potentially indicating a deeper issue that the current administration appears to be ignoring.
Local law enforcement and naval vessels made half-hearted attempts to intercept the swarms, but luck was clearly not on their side. When the drones decided to take their leave on December 23, they left behind more questions than answers. Shouldn’t there be at least some sort of emergency protocol for when drones start filming an episode of “Top Gun: The Sequel” above military bases? Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized that this isn’t just a distant problem but a current and pressing one. However, it’s clear those in charge prefer the view from behind their desks over actually addressing the situation.
Drone swarms have even been reported around other sensitive areas; just recent sightings at Edwards Air Force Base in California and the Energy Department’s Nevada National Security Site remind us that there’s a chance we’re just one swarm away from a Hollywood blockbuster premise. Gen. Gregory Guillot of U.S. Northern Command has taken a keen interest in this developing mess, as the threat posed by these drones adds a new layer of complexity to military operations. While the allegations of random drone buzzings sparking pure chaos are one thing, ignoring this growing epidemic only increases the chances of America becoming the unwitting star of a low-budget espionage film.
In a time when foreign adversaries are working tirelessly to challenge U.S. supremacy, the idea that drone incursions can be brushed off as “probably nothing to worry about” is more the stuff of nightmares than reality. A defense official commented about the frequency of such drone sightings across the United States, implying that it’s business as usual. But, considering the stakes at hand, complacency is hardly a good look. The drone menace continues to buzz while the Biden administration can only seem to buzz back on social media, leaving Americans wondering who might just be controlling the skies above.
