Sen. Tim Kaine ‘very frustrated’ by lack of answers on drone incursions at Langley Air Force Base
Nearly one year after mysterious drones hovered near a top-secret military base in Virginia for 17 days, Senator Tim Kaine expressed his frustration with the lack of answers regarding the incidents. The Virginia Democrat revealed that his state delegation will receive a classified briefing on the situation on Thursday. The drones flew into restricted airspace over the installation, which is home to key national security sites and the F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, for more than two weeks in December 2023. The Pentagon has provided minimal information about the incidents, only confirming their occurrence after a Wall Street Journal report in October.
Senator Kaine stated, “We’re kind of at the year anniversary of these incursions at Langley. And I’m very frustrated with the fact that there’s still so many unanswered questions.” The lack of a standard protocol for handling such incursions left Langley officials uncertain about how to respond, other than allowing the drones to hover near their classified sites. When defense-minded lawmakers sought answers, they were redirected from Langley officials to the FBI, then to Northern Command, and finally to local law enforcement, creating a cycle of finger-pointing and evasion of responsibility.
The drones over Langley appeared to be for surveillance purposes, disrupting training exercises at the base. Similar drone sightings have been reported at other military installations, including Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, and bases in the United Kingdom and Germany. A spending bill under consideration includes a reauthorization of the government’s counter-drone authorities, but experts argue that the program is outdated and in need of updates.
There are various methods available to neutralize unauthorized drones, such as shooting them down, using heat lasers to disable them, or jamming their frequencies. However, the legal authority to deal with drone incursions is unclear, with different agencies like the FAA, FBI, and DOD all involved in the process. The rules of engagement for engaging with drones near U.S. bases vary depending on whether the incursion occurs domestically or overseas, creating confusion over who has the authority to take action.
In recent incidents involving Chinese nationals flying unauthorized drones over U.S. military installations, individuals have been charged and sentenced for their actions. The proliferation of drone incursions poses a significant challenge to national security, especially when it comes to protecting sensitive sites like military bases and nuclear facilities. The need for updated legislation to address the threat posed by drones is evident, as current laws do not provide clear guidelines for dealing with such incidents.
