Drones or Aliens in the Sky Over the USA? What’s Happening?
An unusual situation has sparked concern in the United States, as a series of sightings of mysterious flying objects have caused public alarm, media speculation, and political scrutiny. What are these objects? Drones? If so, who is operating them? Or is there something more mysterious at play?
The Flying Objects: Lights and Patterns in the Sky
These aerial phenomena—often emitting lights and spotted at night—have mostly been seen in New Jersey, not far from New York, but similar reports have come in from other parts of the country as well. The theories vary widely, ranging from the most common explanations, such as espionage by China, Russia, or Iran, to the more extreme possibilities like extraterrestrials or a secret government plan for citizen surveillance.
Fear and Speculations
One major concern revolves around air safety, as there is a fear that collisions between these objects and passenger planes could become unavoidable. Some smaller airports have temporarily suspended operations due to alerts linked to these drones. Consequently, conspiracy theories are spreading, including paranoia about a government preparing for an authoritarian regime or extraterrestrial interference.
Government Statements
The Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI have denied any national security threat, stating that the sightings are often small, authorized flights that are mistaken for drones. However, this declaration has only fueled skepticism among the public rather than calming fears, given the deep-seated mistrust many citizens have toward the administration.
An Ongoing Issue
This situation isn’t entirely new. Precedents, such as the Chinese spy balloon incident in early 2023, have demonstrated vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace defense. Current policies favoring civilian use of airspace and fears of risking passenger aircraft contribute to caution, significantly limiting the military’s and intelligence community’s ability to respond.
A Matter for Reflection
This crisis raises significant questions about air security and the United States’ ability to address threats from modern technology. Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding these sightings continues to be a source of concern for both citizens and experts alike.
Two months ago, this column discussed the discovery that several major U.S. military bases had been repeatedly overflown by mysterious drones, possibly as part of espionage operations conducted by China and Russia. Despite having successfully intercepted and destroyed enemy drones in the Middle East, the Pentagon appears surprisingly unprepared for incursions on its own soil. Investigations into these repeated breaches of restricted airspace have remained inconclusive. Rules of engagement within the U.S. homeland make it difficult, if not impossible, to capture or destroy these flying objects.
At least three key American military installations have been targeted by unknown drones: the Norfolk base in Virginia, the world’s largest naval base and home to NATO’s sole North American headquarters; the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where some of the most advanced Air Force aircraft like the F-35 and F-22 Raptor are stationed; and a nuclear base in Nevada near Las Vegas. These incursions involved systematic, repetitive flights with as many as a dozen drones simultaneously. These were unmanned, automated vehicles, each about seven meters long, flying at speeds of 160 km/h and altitudes of over 1,000 meters.
Similar to the Chinese “spy balloon” incident earlier in 2023, American armed forces appeared unprepared for these drone incursions. Intelligence efforts have struggled to prevent these events. Electronic warfare technologies intended to interfere with the drones’ automatic piloting systems are almost ruled out due to the risk of disrupting essential Wi-Fi networks that underpin emergency services like ambulances and firefighters. Another possibility could be the use of “directed energy” weapons, a recent technology capable of neutralizing drones by disabling them. However, civil aviation safety regulations prevent their use due to the risks posed to scheduled flights.
Similar challenges delayed the interception of the Chinese spy balloon for a long time, such as concerns about it landing in a populated area. Ultimately, the military waited for the balloon to drift over the ocean before shooting it down on February 4, 2023.
Regarding the investigation, only a “small fish” has been caught so far: Fengyun Shi, a Chinese university student enrolled at the University of Minnesota, was arrested while remotely controlling a drone near Langley Air Force Base. During his trial, no connection could be proven between him, the Chinese government, or espionage activities. He was sentenced to a light penalty: six months in federal prison.
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