For over 17 days, unidentified drones reportedly breached restricted airspace over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, raising alarms among military and national security officials. Some of the drones, estimated to be as large as 20 feet and flying at speeds of more than 100 mph, were spotted near sensitive installations. They include Naval Station Norfolk, home to SEAL Team Six and the world’s largest naval port.
Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly and other senior officials personally observed the drones as they flew near these critical facilities. Military officials remain uncertain about the drones’ origin, though speculation suggests they may be part of a foreign operation, potentially linked to Russia or China, aimed at testing U.S. defenses.
Despite deploying fighter jets and advanced surveillance systems, the drones disappeared each night without leaving a trace. Federal law prevents the military from shooting down drones unless they pose an immediate threat, further complicating the response.
The drone incursions were serious enough to reach President Biden, prompting two weeks of high-level White House meetings that involved the Department of Defense, FBI, and other national security agencies. The incidents were not isolated — two months earlier, drones were spotted flying over a nuclear weapons testing site in Nevada, though officials remain unsure who was responsible for that breach as well.
In a separate incident, a Chinese national was arrested in January for flying a drone near a naval shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, where nuclear submarines are built. While no link has been made to the Langley drone swarms, this arrest underscores growing concerns about drones being used near sensitive U.S. sites.
National security experts warn that these incidents highlight a growing threat as drone technology becomes more advanced. Investigations into the Langley drone swarm are ongoing, but the identity and intent of those operating the drones remains unknown.
