A hearing held by the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday addressed escalating worries that drones pose a fresh danger to U.S. military installations.
Earlier this year, the matter attracted significant attention after drones were spotted above various military bases throughout New Jersey and elsewhere in the nation. In 2024, there was an uptick with reports of 350 drone sightings occurring at 100 distinct military facilities nationwide.
RELATED STORY | What information do we have regarding the enigmatic drones spotted above New Jersey?
During Tuesday’s hearing, leading officials from the Defense Department voiced fresh apprehensions, stating that U.S. military bases lack adequate protection against these types of drones.
The deputy chief of staff for operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that drones have profoundly altered terrorist groups, military tactics in combat, as well as methods of intelligence collection.
Rear Admiral Paul Spedero stated during the hearing, "Our country can no longer be considered a safe haven. If our opponent decides to use drones for reconnaissance or an assault, we would lack sufficient defenses to protect our nation effectively and could only barely safeguard our military bases."
Spedero cautioned that advancements in drone technology are significantly ahead of those in anti-drone tech. Often, simple drones can easily bypass the more sophisticated anti-drone systems and jammers available to military forces.
As reported by the Pentagon, over the past few weeks, base commanders who must address proximate drones have been updated with new standard operating procedures.
During the hearing, discussions included matters related to drones and their funding. The latest budget allocates approximately $1.1 billion towards enhancing U.S. drone production capabilities, with an additional $250 million designated for terrestrial anti-drone initiatives. Officials from the defense sector stated at the hearing that they seek increased financial resources to ensure America remains both competitive and secure within this rapidly advancing domain.
0 Comments