Summary

Due to a recent increase in drone sightings, news and public attention is focused on concerns about unauthorized drone use, especially over populated areas.

Concerns about drones are well founded. Drones have been used as powerful military weapons. Their effectiveness is primarily due to challenges with early detection, tracking, or striking them. In some cases, they have traveled many miles undetected and evaded defense systems in Russia, Israel, and elsewhere. So, it’s understandable that there would be some fear about them.

This document provides some news and information about drones in light of a recent increase in sightings.

Drones Over Eastern States

In November and December there has been an increase in drone sightings over the Eastern States. Public sightings can sometimes be observations of planes or helicopters mistaken as drones or UFOs. However, there are multiple reports of many drones being witnessed by law enforcement officials and members of the armed forces. They have been sighted over military bases, naval weapons bases, and airports. Aviation experts have verified these sightings.

According to the report below, a sworn police officer called 911 to report 50 drones coming inland from the ocean. The Coast Guard was immediately contacted and they identified 13 more drones in the area. Some of the drones are identified as having a wingspan of about 8-feet.

[Source: NewsNation via YouTube, 16 Dec 2024]

Potential Problems

Here are a few of the potential problems with unauthorized drone use.

• Drones used for unauthorized surveillance are potentially an invasion of privacy.
• Drones flying over populated areas present a risk if the drone were to malfunction and fall.
• Unauthorized drones controlled by unskilled people could become entangled with high power lines resulting in fires, similar to those that have damaged millions of acres in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Drone Flight Authorization

According to standard accepted practices, drone flight should avoid people and private property. Local and federal privacy laws restrict drone use in many areas.

The drones recently witnessed in many East Coast states seem to be above the 400 foot threshold considered a requirement for pre-flight authorization. They are also near airports and have resulted in airports grounding all flights.

Drones for Public Safety

Drone defense, security, and public safety systems are being developed by companies such as BRINC Drones featured in the video below.

“Blake Resnick is the founder and CEO of BRINC Drones, a Seattle based company that’s trying to change how law enforcement and first responders use drones. As these flying devices become more common over the U.S., questions on data, privacy, and use will continue to evolve while businesses try to leap into this emerging market.” [Source: CNBC, 29 Sep 2023]

Defense Against Drones

The report below from 3 Oct 2019 explores methods to identify and defend against drones.

“Anduril: The Startup Building Surveillance Systems & Drone-Smashers For The Military” — Palmer Luckey’s defense technology startup, Anduril Industries, is developing products he says the United States needs as a matter of national security. Anduril has already built surveillance systems for military and defense agencies and is now adding a drone-destroying capability to its product line. The company recently secured a contract to deploy its interceptor system in conflict zones overseas. But all of this makes Anduril, and Luckey, highly unusual in the tech industry, which has seen workers openly rebel against any work that would give surveillance capabilities to law enforcement or the military. [Source]

Counter-Drone Technologies

The report below from 10 Feb 2019 explores counter-drone technologies.

“Why We Need Counter-Drone Tech Now More Than Ever” — By 2022 the FAA expects we’ll have 2.9 million drones flying in the U.S. With so many drones in the sky it’s inevitable that sometimes things will go wrong. Counter-drone companies like Dedrone and Fortem are offering a solution by developing technologies to detect and intercept unwanted drones. [Source]

Identifying and Destroying Drones

The report below explores methods to identify and destroy drones. Video queued to 4m 20s.

“Vortex Cannon vs Drone” — [Source]

News

Below are recent news reports about what appear to be unauthorized drone operations over populated areas.

CNN (16 Dec 2024 at 9:01 PM ET)

“Drone detection systems sent to New Jersey, according to officials” — CNN’s Polo Sandoval breaks down the latest updates after drone sightings have raised concerns among both the public and officials along the east coast of the US. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer discusses with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). [Source]

FOX 5 New York (16 Dec 2024 at ~3PM ET)

“Drone detection system activated in NY” — A special drone detection system is now being deployed in New York state. This comes as authorities continue to investigate several reported drone sightings throughout our area in the last month. President-elect Donald Trump said “the government knows what is happening” when asked about the New Jersey drone mystery during a wide-ranging Monday morning news conference. FOX 5 NY’s Lisa Evers has the latest. [Source]