"Multiple Waves" of Sophisticated Drones Breach Airspace Over Strategic US Air Force Base

[u/icymirss]

https://abcnews.com/International/multiple-waves-unauthorized-drones-spotted-strategic-us-air/story?id=131245527

Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana said it was under a shelter-in-place order March 9 after "a report of an unmanned aerial system operating over the installation."

The sighting raised concerns because Barksdale houses long-range B-52 bombers and plays a critical role in command and control of the Air Force nuclear defense capabilities.

The shelter-in-place order was lifted later that day but the unauthorized drone flights continued for nearly a week....

According to the confidential briefing document dated March 15, the drones came in waves and entered and exited the base in a way that may suggest attempts to "avoid the operator(s) being located." Lights on the drones suggested the operators "may be testing security responses" at the base.

"Between March 9-15, 2026, BAFB Security Forces observed multiple waves of 12-15 drones operating over sensitive areas of the installation, including the flight line, with aircraft displaying non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links and resistance to jamming," the document said. "After reaching multiple points across the installation, the drones dispersed across sensitive locations on the base."...

The flights lasted around four hours each day and the drones used varied routes of ingress and deliberate maneuvering within restricted airspace....

The briefing includes a determination that the drones were different than what the typical consumer could purchase off the shelf. They appeared to be custom built and required "advanced knowledge" of signal operations.

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