Drones gone wild
And, join us TOMORROW Thursday the 5th for the next Community Conversation
Hi everyone!
First an apology for getting this out so close to our next community conversation - life has been really full in the past month! (including attendance at the Sol Foundation second annual conference, but more on that below). What you need to know now is that there is an Unveiling the Enigma Community Conversation scheduled for tomorrow, Dec 5th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm EST. We are a thoughtful, educated, and connective group of folks interested in all things UAP related. Whether you are an UAP veteran or newbie, an experiencer or simply here for the nuts and bolts, we’d love to have you drop in.
If you are interested in joining us, please e-mail Janis at wttafriend@gmail.com for the zoom link.
What will we cover? There is so much! We last met right after the open hearings in the US house Committee on of Oversight and Accountability chaired by Rep. Nancy Mace (Nov 13th). Since then, we have had a Senate hearing with the new head of AARO, Jon Kosloski, the second annual Sol Foundation conference, and most recently, a massive wave of “drone” sightings. All of this activity occurs against the backdrop of a chaotic and unstable global political landscape and what looks to be highly impactful upcoming changes to key US agencies that will undoubtedly have massive effects in the US and across the globe.
In short, we will have no shortage of things to discuss. Until then, here is a quick update on the current “drone” situation.
It is raining “Drones” and no military can get them down and back in the box
Recent months have seen a concerning pattern of unauthorized “drone” activity over sensitive military installations, particularly involving U.S. facilities. The 2023 incident over Langley air force base even required removal of several sensitive planes. More recently, a notable cluster of incidents has emerged in the United Kingdom, where multiple U.S. Air Force bases including RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell, and RAF Fairford have reported drone incursions since November 20th. While the U.S. Air Forces in Europe have stated these incidents haven't impacted base operations or assets, they're working closely with British authorities to investigate.
This all served as a precursor to the last week when drones seemed to be everywhere all at once, prompting FBI investigation (who have individually reported “hitchhiker” activity over their homes!).
These incidents, involving what appears to be multiple drones and possibly a fixed-wing aircraft, have drawn particular attention due to their proximity to both military installations and Trump's Bedminster golf course. While local law enforcement, including the Morris County Sheriff's Office, has stated there is no immediate danger to the public (though they do not indicate how they know this), the FAA has implemented drone flight restrictions in the area while investigations continue. The military has not commented on the situation.
The incursions have become so prolific across the US and the world that a few days ago one Reddit poster (Puzzlehead-Bed-333) posted a roster of incidents (there have been a good number more since this was posted):
11/20 Essex, UK
11/21 Costa Rica
11/22 Peterborough, England, NYC, NY
11/23 Colorado Springs, CO, Lincolnshire, UK
11/24 Louisiana
11/25 Raf Lakenheath, UK, Berlin, Germany, Dover AFB, Delaware, Paradise Hotel, Belize
11/26 Washington DC, Virginia Beach, VA, Raf Labyrinth, UK, Pei, Canada
*11/27 Both NASA and James Webb telescopes are reported as down
11/27 Manchester, UK, Ontario, Canada, Portugal, Lincolnshire, UK, Kyiv, Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania, Reno, NV, Meath, Ireland, Pacifica, CA, Madison, Wisconsin, Kansas, Wales, UK
*11/28 Russia threatens to strike military facilities of other countries
*11/28 RAF requests unusual aviation sightings to be reported
11/28 Washington DC, Glasgow, UK, Kearney, NE, Duke Power Plant NC, Chile, Northern Ireland, New York City, NY, Queensland, Australia, Lahore, Pakistan, Raf Lakenheath, UK, Oxfordshire, UK, SW Florida, San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Coast of Iceland, Vienna, Austria, South Texas, Suffolk, England, Norfolk, England, *5 US Bases in UK, Daegu, South Korea, Meath, Ireland, Leicester, UK, Ontario, Canada, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Hamburg, Germany, Raf Midenhall, Raf Feltwell, Raf Fairford, Scunthrophe, UK, Whiteman, MO, Hillsboro Beach, FL, Deerfield Beach, FL, Herfordshire, UK
11/29 Bullhead City, AZ, Pacifica, CA, Portsdown Hill, UK, Bucks, UK, Raf Lakenheath, UK, Newark, NJ, White Mountains, AZ, Fort Myers, FL, Dallas, TX, Carrabelle, FL, Longbeach, CA, Northern Rhode Island, St Petersburg, FL, London, UK, Manchester, UK, Norwich, UK, Sacramento, CA, Cambridge Airport, UK, Orlando, FL, Southern Italy, Oakville, Ontario, Gloucestershire, UK, Huimilpan, Mexico, Hartford, CT, Fort Myers, FL
Update:
11/30 Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tianjin, China, Northern Rhode Island, Pinson, Alabama
The incursions have become so obvious that they have attracted the attention of local news stations and have prompted an emergency classified bipartisan, classified briefing with Jon Kosloski, director of DoD’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office today, Dec. 4th. Because it is classified, we are likely to know very little in the wake of the meeting, but I am sure there will be tons of chatter in UAP communities!
Keep in mind that flying drones over classified or restricted military installations is strictly prohibited under federal law. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains a comprehensive system of airspace restrictions that require drone operators to:
Register their drones with the FAA if over 0.55 lbs
Use the B4UFLY app or website to check airspace restrictions before flying
Keep drones below 400 feet and within visual line of sight
Never fly over military installations, federal facilities, or other restricted areas
The penalties for violating these restrictions can be severe, including:
Civil fines up to $32,666 per violation for individuals
Criminal prosecution with potential fines and imprisonment
Immediate interception and disabling of the drone by authorities
It is also worth noting that the military detects drones primarily using specialized radar systems that can pick up the small radar reflections from drones, along with radio frequency (RF) sensors to detect the communication signals between the drone and its operator; once detected, drones can be taken down using kinetic weapons like missiles, nets, or even dedicated counter-drone drones, depending on the threat level and situation; advanced systems can also employ electronic jamming to disrupt the drone's control signals.
Not new
The current set of incisions are certainly attention grabbing, but they are not new. The U.S. military has been facing a series of puzzling "drone swarm" incidents over the past five years, occurring near critical defense facilities including nuclear missile silos and naval assets. These incidents, documented across multiple locations including Langley Air Force Base, rural areas of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and off the Southern California coast, share striking similarities in their characteristics.
They also do not behave like drones.
Many of the craft being reported over military and residential neighborhoods are reported to be the size of small cars, to be unusual shapes, to remain hovering in one place for hours (not possible by most known drone technology). Moreover, many return night after night with residents capturing and sharing footage on social media platforms in bulk. What we do not have in bulk are answers. Other than assuring that there is no risk (even as some have blithely suggest that the craft are advanced adversary drones), authorities have been mute.
The objects consistently display unusual capabilities, operating silently even at close range, maintaining flight in adverse weather conditions, and exhibiting unconventional light patterns. Many encounters involve what witnesses describe as a larger "mothership" coordinating with smaller objects, typically operating at night. Perhaps most notably, these incidents frequently occur near sensitive military installations, particularly nuclear missile facilities.
Despite extensive multi-agency investigations, including efforts by the FAA, no definitive explanation has emerged. The Pentagon has not provided evidence that conventional drones are responsible, and investigations have ruled out covert military activities. Senator Mark Kelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has confirmed that no photographic evidence has been shared with Congress.
Adding an intriguing historical dimension, nearly identical incidents were reported in 1965 in the same regions of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Over 140 Air Force personnel stationed at nuclear missile silos documented similar objects with matching characteristics - silent operation, distinctive lighting patterns, and unusual flight capabilities. This historical parallel is particularly significant given that drone technology didn't exist at that time.
These ongoing incidents represent a significant security concern, particularly given their proximity to critical military installations. Despite the U.S. government's extensive investigative capabilities, the nature and origin of these objects remain a mystery, raising important questions about national security vulnerabilities that demand congressional attention.
Join us tomorrow for more!
We’ll dive into drones, reports from Sol from group members who attended, and our collective impressions, questions and musings. Write Janis at wttafriend@gmail.com for a zoom link or with questions.
Become a UAP Citizen Scientist
Now that the UAP issue has so defiantly entered the civilian space, some of you may be interested in joining civilian efforts to detect what is in the airspace near you as part of a larger data collaboration aimed at enhancing the speed of disclsoure. Learn more about this effort here:
Please feel free to share with friends who are aware that we are living in monumental times.
Hope to see you tomorrow!
Warmly,
Janis and the UAPD team!