A series of drone incursions over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia last year has prompted U.S. military officials to address potential security threats. For 17 consecutive days in December, unidentified drones repeatedly breached restricted airspace at the base, which houses advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. The incidents, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, have heightened concerns about the growing challenge of countering uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) on U.S. soil.
Military personnel observed the drones, which flew at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and altitudes between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, appearing roughly 45 minutes after sunset. Despite the regularity of the incursions, officials have yet to determine whether the drones were operated by hobbyists or posed a more serious threat from hostile powers like China or Russia. The drones’ proximity to critical military infrastructure, including Navy SEAL Team Six’s base and the world’s largest naval port at Norfolk, has added to the concerns.
The incidents reached the highest levels of government, prompting multiple meetings at the White House in late 2023 involving the Department of Defense, the FBI, and the Pentagon’s office for unidentified aerial phenomena (UFOs). An investigation remains ongoing, but officials have not yet identified the source of the drone fleet.
In response, Langley Air Force Base is exploring new measures to safeguard its airspace. The base’s 633rd Contracting Squadron issued a notice seeking proposals for anti-drone nets to be installed around sunshades used for aircraft, including F-22s. These nets are designed to disable small drones, such as the DJI Matrice 300, while allowing quick retraction to ensure flight operations remain unaffected. The proposed system would withstand extreme weather conditions and prevent drones from interfering with aircraft or personnel.
This incident follows a similar drone breach over a nuclear weapons testing site in Nevada two months earlier, highlighting a broader challenge for the military in securing critical facilities from increasingly advanced drone technologies. Other bases, such as Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, are also considering passive drone defense systems to protect combat jets like the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Expanded Coverage:
