This post highlights several confirmed drone swarms over sensitive airspace. Although many more have occurred, these examples illustrate the challenges the U.S. faces.

Each drone swarm exhibits the following characteristics:

Multiple drones operating at once
Incursions spanning multiple nights
Flying over sensitive airspace (warships, nuclear power plants, military bases)
Unknown launch and destination locations
Unknown manufacturer of drones
Unknown individuals or organizations involved

Purportedly, anti-drone systems were deployed in some cases but proved ineffective.

It’s almost as if these drones are taunting the U.S. government.

Swarm 1: Navy Warships, July 2019

Swarms occurred on at least six nights, including during an ongoing investigation into the initial swarms.

At least five U.S. destroyers were involved: USS Kidd, USS Rafael Peralta, USS Russell, USS John Finn, USS Paul Hamilton
Numerous drones swarmed multiple destroyers simultaneously
The initial encounter was about 100 miles offshore
Drones shone bright lights into the bridge of the USS Paul Hamilton several times
The DRAKE (Drone Restricted Access Using Known EW) anti-drone system was used (apparently without success)
At least one record obtained by FOIA on the incident was titled “UAP Brief”
One evening’s activity lasted nearly three hours
Organizations involved: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Maritime Intelligence Operations Center (MIOC), Coast Guard, FBI

[Nearly 2 years after the incident] Asked by Jeff Schogol of Task & Purpose if the Navy had positively identified any of the aircraft involved, [Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael] Gilday responded by saying:
“No, we have not.” -twz

Swarm 2: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, September 2019

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station is America’s most powerful nuclear plant

Between five and six drones were involved
The swarm incident spanned two consecutive nights
Drones were flying over and around reactors
Drones had spotlights on while approaching the site, then turned them off upon entering the Security Owner Controlled Area
Organizations involved: NRC’s Headquarters Operations Center (HOC), NRC’s Intelligence Liaison and Threat Assessment Branch (ILTAB), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), FBI, and local law enforcement

“This week has been Drone-a-palooza for ssure [sic],” the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response’s Deputy Director Lombard had written in an Email on Oct. 4. -twz

Swarm 3: DOE’s Nevada National Security Site, October 2023

The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) supports America’s nuclear weapons Stockpile Stewardship Program
NNSS is one of the nation’s premier locations for testing counter-drone technologies
Incursions occurred over three days
Four drones were detected by a counter-UAS platform; one was spotted by an employee
Law enforcement was not able to determine the drones’ origins

“This is not a hypothetical issue for us. Over three days last October, there were five UAS sightings at the southern border of our Nevada site … law enforcement was not able to determine the origins. We are awake to the challenge, and have been taking concrete steps.” -Acting Principal Deputy Administrator Corey Hinderstein (unmanned airspace)

Swarm 4: Langley AFB, December 2023

Swarms flew over Langley AFB for 17 straight days
Reports escalated to the White House Situation Room
The incident was included in the President’s daily briefing
After overflying Langley AFB, the drones headed south toward Norfolk, Va., over an area that includes the home base of SEAL Team Six and Naval Station Norfolk (the world’s largest naval port)
The drones flew in a pattern: one or two fixed-wing drones at 100+ feet altitude, with smaller quadcopters (roughly 20-pound commercial drones) often below and flying slower
The number of drones fluctuated, ranging in size and configuration; as many as a dozen drones flew over in a single night
The drones did not use the usual frequency band of off-the-shelf commercial drones
Officials canceled nighttime training missions
Langley moved a squadron of F-22 Raptors, America’s premier jet fighter, to another base

Some shone small lights, making them look like a constellation moving in the night sky—or a science-fiction movie, [U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark] Kelly said, “‘Close Encounters at Langley.’” They also were nearly impossible to track, vanishing each night despite a wealth of resources deployed to catch them. -wsj

Swarm 5: United States Air Force Plant 42, August 2024

United States Air Force Plant 42 is a classified aircraft manufacturing facility, operated as a component of Edwards AFB
The next stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, is being assembled there
The FAA issued temporary flight restrictions extending two nautical miles in all directions, from the surface up to and including 1,000 feet

The U.S. Air Force’s Plant 42 in California, America’s premier hub for advanced aerospace development work, especially highly classified military programs, has seen a wave of mysterious drone incursions in recent months. -twz

Swarm 6: Multiple UK Airbases, November 2024

At least four U.S. airbases were involved: R.A.F. Lakenheath, R.A.F. Mildenhall, R.A.F. Feltwell, R.A.F. Fairford
Two of these sites are linked to nuclear weapons
Sixty RAF personnel were sent to assist the U.S. Air Force
Two Cobra meetings have been held in secret (COBRA is convened for national emergencies or major disruptions)
The ORCUS Counter-Uncrewed Air System was reportedly deployed to detect, track, identify, and, if necessary, attack hostile drones
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued temporary restrictions on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over 11 additional locations

However, despite the advanced technology available at the military bases, they were unable to track the drones’ signals or pinpoint launch locations. No drones have been captured, which would have allowed their examination, and they were not affected by electronic countermeasures such as jamming. -thetimes