A group of drones appeared over Langley Air Force Base and Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia for 17 days, but the Pentagon found it difficult to respond, the Wall Street Journal writes, citing sources. There are many military installations concentrated in this area. In particular, Langley is home to the CIA headquarters, and Norfolk is the largest naval base in the world, next to which is the base of the elite Navy SEAL Team Six squadron.
Drones have already been seen over military installations in the United States, but this case is special, the publication’s interlocutors point out. The current incidents occurred in December 2023 and the devices appeared in the sky between 45 and 60 minutes after sunset. Witnesses estimated that the length of the drones reaches 6 m, the flight speed is 160 km per hour, and the sound they emit is compared to a “parade of lawnmowers.” Some of the drones glowed slightly. Police attempted to pursue the devices on foot and in a patrol car, but missed their mark.
It is not clear who owns the drones, WSJ interlocutors admitted. Some of them suggested that Russia or China were behind these actions, who wanted to test the reaction of the US military. Officials do not believe the common enthusiasts theory, given the complexity of the operation and the fact that the drones did not use the frequency range usual for mass-produced commercial drones.
The US military is legally prohibited from shooting down drones near military bases unless the devices pose an immediate threat. Aerial surveillance does not fall within this definition.
The current situation was reported to the President. joe bidenmeetings were held at the White House on this topic. The issue was addressed by FBI and Pentagon officials, including members of the UFO department.
In January 2024, a suspect appeared in the case: a 26-year-old student at the University of Minnesota, a Chinese national. Fengyun Shi. The FBI found images of military ships in dry dock on its drone. He was detained while trying to board a flight to China without a return ticket. The man said he launched the UAV for fun.
Shi was accused of illegally taking photographs of sensitive naval facilities, marking the first time the use of a drone fell under the Espionage Act. The man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison.
“If I were a foreign agent, I would be the worst spy ever known” – RBC quotes his lawyer. Shao Ming Chen.
