Unidentified Drones Swarm U.S. Military Bases, Raising Security Concerns
A new report reveals that mysterious drone sightings over the U.S. date back to 2019, including a 17-day period when dozens of unidentified aircraft hovered over key military sites such as Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. These drones, similar to ones recently seen over the Eastern Seaboard, have been observed stalking naval warships off California and flying near advanced F-22 stealth fighters.
High-ranking officials, including Sen. Roger Wicker and Gen. Gregory Guillot, acknowledge the security risk, with Wicker suggesting the drones could be spying on U.S. military capabilities. Witnesses, including a retired four-star general and an eyewitness who recorded nearly 90 minutes of footage, describe the drones as varying in size from small quadcopters to objects as large as a small car.
Despite ongoing investigations by the FBI and the military, officials remain uncertain about the drones' origins and intentions, though foreign involvement is suspected. Gen. Glen VanHerck highlighted a critical security gap, noting that NORAD’s radar systems struggle to detect low-flying drones, making defense against such incursions difficult.
While the White House has downplayed similar drone sightings over New Jersey as the work of hobbyists, military leaders stress the urgency of upgrading detection capabilities. New radar systems are being installed at strategic sites, but VanHerck warns that the government has not acted swiftly enough, calling for immediate policy changes to address the growing threat.
Source
Miami Beach Deploys Drones to Crack Down on Spring Break Chaos
Miami Beach Police are deploying the Skydio X10 drone, the first of its kind in Florida, to monitor spring breakers and maintain order. This high-tech airborne first responder can reach any area of the city within a minute, providing real-time data to officers at the newly established Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC), which already monitors 850 surveillance cameras.
City leaders, having heavily cracked down on wild spring break behavior last year, are reinforcing their stance with advanced crime-fighting tools to deter unruly crowds. Mayor Steven Meiner and Police Chief Wayne Jones emphasize that this initiative aims to uphold law and order while discouraging disruptive visitors.
While some spring breakers acknowledge the city’s concerns about past rowdiness, they also argue that Miami Beach remains a prime destination for fun. However, the crackdown appears to be working, as some students admit their friends have opted to avoid Miami Beach altogether.
The local Chamber of Commerce supports the city’s efforts, seeing them as a strategic balance between short-term tourism revenue and long-term community well-being. With spring break in full swing, Miami Beach leaders hope the combination of surveillance technology and strict enforcement will solidify the city’s reputation as a safer, more controlled environment.
Source
The Struggle to Stop Drone Swarms
Over the past six years, unidentified drones have repeatedly infiltrated sensitive U.S. military and infrastructure sites, with officials unable to determine their origins or operators. In December 2023, dozens of drones swarmed Langley Air Force Base over 17 nights, forcing the relocation of F-22 fighter jets.
Similar incursions have occurred near naval warships, nuclear plants, and military research sites, exposing critical gaps in detection, policy, and legal authority. Modern drones are cheap, highly capable, and able to evade traditional radar, making them difficult to track and intercept. Despite calls to shoot them down, military officials warn that doing so over populated areas poses severe risks, including missile debris and unintended collateral damage.
Efforts to counter these drone threats are complicated by jurisdictional issues, with multiple agencies involved but no single entity fully empowered to respond. Jamming drone frequencies could interfere with Wi-Fi, GPS, and civilian air traffic, limiting its practicality.
In response, the military is developing "fly-away kits," which will include portable radar and drone mitigation tools to be rapidly deployed when incursions occur. General Gregory Guillot, the commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, stated that these kits should be operational by 2026, finally providing the military with a structured response to future drone threats.
Source
Wingcopter Expands into BVLOS Lidar Surveying with Advanced Drone Technology
Wingcopter, a German drone provider known for its cargo drones, has announced its expansion into long-range BVLOS lidar surveying solutions. The Wingcopter 198, an all-electric eVTOL fixed-wing drone, will now feature advanced laser scanning and camera systems to efficiently collect high-quality data for mapping and surveying.
This move aligns with the industry's shift from manned helicopters to unmanned drones, demonstrating the increasing reliability and efficiency of drone technology. The Wingcopter 198, released in 2021, was designed with redundancy and durability in mind, boasting a 1,000+ flight-hour lifetime and pre-flight safety checks. It is currently undergoing FAA-type certification in the U.S. while Wingcopter simultaneously advances its lidar capabilities.
The lidar-equipped Wingcopter 198 can survey up to 37 miles (60 km) per mission, scanning large areas with high precision. This technology provides a cost-effective, safer, and environmentally friendly alternative to helicopters, particularly for tasks like powerline inspections.
The company is actively proving the drone’s BVLOS capabilities in real-world applications, including collaborations with Synerjet in Brazil, where they are developing customized functionalities for asset industries such as vegetation monitoring and infrastructure inspections.
Source
Marine Corps Invests $642M in AI-Powered Counter-Drone Defense
The U.S. Marine Corps is investing heavily in AI-powered counter-drone technology to protect its installations, awarding a $642 million contract to Anduril to develop, install, and sustain a family of counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (I-CsUAS) through 2035. This decision follows an increase in drone incursions at military bases and lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Anduril’s systems, which are already in use with U.S. Special Operations Command, include advanced sensors and weapons to detect, track, and neutralize drones. The company’s AI-driven software, Lattice, will serve as the central platform, integrating multiple detection and defense capabilities, such as radar, infrared imaging, and electronic warfare, while ensuring human oversight remains in critical decision-making processes.
Anduril’s "software-first" approach allows for continuous upgrades as technology advances, providing the Marine Corps with a scalable and adaptable defense system. The contract primarily addresses smaller Group 1 and Group 2 drones, but Anduril also possesses capabilities to counter larger Group 3 threats, including kamikaze drones.
The system’s layered approach enhances threat identification by combining various sensor modalities, improving response times and reducing the burden on operators. While autonomy is a key component, human operators will retain control over final engagement decisions, aligning with the Marine Corps’ operational preferences.
Source
Anduril to Build UK Drone Factory Amid European Expansion
Anduril Industries, a major U.S. defense start-up specializing in AI-driven autonomous systems and weapons, is planning to establish a drone factory in the UK, marking its European expansion. The facility will mirror its $1 billion “hyperscale” Arsenal-1 plant in Ohio, enabling end-to-end research, development, and manufacturing of advanced weaponry.
The UK Ministry of Defence has already engaged with Anduril, recently awarding its UK arm a £30 million contract to supply Ukraine with loitering munitions, the Altius 600m and Altius 700m drones. The company, founded by Palmer Luckey—creator of Oculus VR—has grown rapidly, securing $1.5 billion in funding last year at a $14 billion valuation.
Anduril is currently negotiating a new funding round that could double its valuation to $28 billion, led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, with a $1 billion investment. Potential locations for the UK factory include the northwest of England and the Oxford-Cambridge arc, though final decisions remain undisclosed. The company’s UK division has expressed enthusiasm for expanding its presence and sovereign capabilities in the region.
Source
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Unleash the full potential of your DJI drone flight logs. Flight Reader gives you access to more detailed data than any other app—all while keeping your logs secure and offline.
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A new report reveals that mysterious drone sightings over the U.S. date back to 2019, including a 17-day period when dozens of unidentified aircraft hovered over key military sites such as Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. These drones, similar to ones recently seen over the Eastern Seaboard, have been observed stalking naval warships off California and flying near advanced F-22 stealth fighters.
High-ranking officials, including Sen. Roger Wicker and Gen. Gregory Guillot, acknowledge the security risk, with Wicker suggesting the drones could be spying on U.S. military capabilities. Witnesses, including a retired four-star general and an eyewitness who recorded nearly 90 minutes of footage, describe the drones as varying in size from small quadcopters to objects as large as a small car.
Despite ongoing investigations by the FBI and the military, officials remain uncertain about the drones' origins and intentions, though foreign involvement is suspected. Gen. Glen VanHerck highlighted a critical security gap, noting that NORAD’s radar systems struggle to detect low-flying drones, making defense against such incursions difficult.
While the White House has downplayed similar drone sightings over New Jersey as the work of hobbyists, military leaders stress the urgency of upgrading detection capabilities. New radar systems are being installed at strategic sites, but VanHerck warns that the government has not acted swiftly enough, calling for immediate policy changes to address the growing threat.
Source
Miami Beach Deploys Drones to Crack Down on Spring Break Chaos
Miami Beach Police are deploying the Skydio X10 drone, the first of its kind in Florida, to monitor spring breakers and maintain order. This high-tech airborne first responder can reach any area of the city within a minute, providing real-time data to officers at the newly established Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC), which already monitors 850 surveillance cameras.
City leaders, having heavily cracked down on wild spring break behavior last year, are reinforcing their stance with advanced crime-fighting tools to deter unruly crowds. Mayor Steven Meiner and Police Chief Wayne Jones emphasize that this initiative aims to uphold law and order while discouraging disruptive visitors.
While some spring breakers acknowledge the city’s concerns about past rowdiness, they also argue that Miami Beach remains a prime destination for fun. However, the crackdown appears to be working, as some students admit their friends have opted to avoid Miami Beach altogether.
The local Chamber of Commerce supports the city’s efforts, seeing them as a strategic balance between short-term tourism revenue and long-term community well-being. With spring break in full swing, Miami Beach leaders hope the combination of surveillance technology and strict enforcement will solidify the city’s reputation as a safer, more controlled environment.
Source
The Struggle to Stop Drone Swarms
Over the past six years, unidentified drones have repeatedly infiltrated sensitive U.S. military and infrastructure sites, with officials unable to determine their origins or operators. In December 2023, dozens of drones swarmed Langley Air Force Base over 17 nights, forcing the relocation of F-22 fighter jets.
Similar incursions have occurred near naval warships, nuclear plants, and military research sites, exposing critical gaps in detection, policy, and legal authority. Modern drones are cheap, highly capable, and able to evade traditional radar, making them difficult to track and intercept. Despite calls to shoot them down, military officials warn that doing so over populated areas poses severe risks, including missile debris and unintended collateral damage.
Efforts to counter these drone threats are complicated by jurisdictional issues, with multiple agencies involved but no single entity fully empowered to respond. Jamming drone frequencies could interfere with Wi-Fi, GPS, and civilian air traffic, limiting its practicality.
In response, the military is developing "fly-away kits," which will include portable radar and drone mitigation tools to be rapidly deployed when incursions occur. General Gregory Guillot, the commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, stated that these kits should be operational by 2026, finally providing the military with a structured response to future drone threats.
Source
Wingcopter Expands into BVLOS Lidar Surveying with Advanced Drone Technology
Wingcopter, a German drone provider known for its cargo drones, has announced its expansion into long-range BVLOS lidar surveying solutions. The Wingcopter 198, an all-electric eVTOL fixed-wing drone, will now feature advanced laser scanning and camera systems to efficiently collect high-quality data for mapping and surveying.
This move aligns with the industry's shift from manned helicopters to unmanned drones, demonstrating the increasing reliability and efficiency of drone technology. The Wingcopter 198, released in 2021, was designed with redundancy and durability in mind, boasting a 1,000+ flight-hour lifetime and pre-flight safety checks. It is currently undergoing FAA-type certification in the U.S. while Wingcopter simultaneously advances its lidar capabilities.
The lidar-equipped Wingcopter 198 can survey up to 37 miles (60 km) per mission, scanning large areas with high precision. This technology provides a cost-effective, safer, and environmentally friendly alternative to helicopters, particularly for tasks like powerline inspections.
The company is actively proving the drone’s BVLOS capabilities in real-world applications, including collaborations with Synerjet in Brazil, where they are developing customized functionalities for asset industries such as vegetation monitoring and infrastructure inspections.
Source
Marine Corps Invests $642M in AI-Powered Counter-Drone Defense
The U.S. Marine Corps is investing heavily in AI-powered counter-drone technology to protect its installations, awarding a $642 million contract to Anduril to develop, install, and sustain a family of counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (I-CsUAS) through 2035. This decision follows an increase in drone incursions at military bases and lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Anduril’s systems, which are already in use with U.S. Special Operations Command, include advanced sensors and weapons to detect, track, and neutralize drones. The company’s AI-driven software, Lattice, will serve as the central platform, integrating multiple detection and defense capabilities, such as radar, infrared imaging, and electronic warfare, while ensuring human oversight remains in critical decision-making processes.
Anduril’s "software-first" approach allows for continuous upgrades as technology advances, providing the Marine Corps with a scalable and adaptable defense system. The contract primarily addresses smaller Group 1 and Group 2 drones, but Anduril also possesses capabilities to counter larger Group 3 threats, including kamikaze drones.
The system’s layered approach enhances threat identification by combining various sensor modalities, improving response times and reducing the burden on operators. While autonomy is a key component, human operators will retain control over final engagement decisions, aligning with the Marine Corps’ operational preferences.
Source
Anduril to Build UK Drone Factory Amid European Expansion
Anduril Industries, a major U.S. defense start-up specializing in AI-driven autonomous systems and weapons, is planning to establish a drone factory in the UK, marking its European expansion. The facility will mirror its $1 billion “hyperscale” Arsenal-1 plant in Ohio, enabling end-to-end research, development, and manufacturing of advanced weaponry.
The UK Ministry of Defence has already engaged with Anduril, recently awarding its UK arm a £30 million contract to supply Ukraine with loitering munitions, the Altius 600m and Altius 700m drones. The company, founded by Palmer Luckey—creator of Oculus VR—has grown rapidly, securing $1.5 billion in funding last year at a $14 billion valuation.
Anduril is currently negotiating a new funding round that could double its valuation to $28 billion, led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, with a $1 billion investment. Potential locations for the UK factory include the northwest of England and the Oxford-Cambridge arc, though final decisions remain undisclosed. The company’s UK division has expressed enthusiasm for expanding its presence and sovereign capabilities in the region.
Source
Discover More with Flight Reader
Unleash the full potential of your DJI drone flight logs. Flight Reader gives you access to more detailed data than any other app—all while keeping your logs secure and offline.
Try it free today!
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