US drone scare: citizen safety concerns

New Jersey Governor and US Senator go drone hunting on Sunday

For some time now, news portals have been reporting that some foreign countries have objects, most likely drones, scratching the sky. The images not only give rise to conspiracy theories, but also make you want to hide under the blanket. Although no definitive conclusion has been reached, it is reported that drones have been observed for some time over parts of New Jersey in the United States. As a result, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and US Senator Andy Kim went on a drone hunt on Sunday.

"The public deserves answers and we will continue to press the federal government for more information and resources," said Ph. Murphy. However, he assured that drones do not threaten public safety. But not everyone agreed. Some municipal legislators called for stricter rules to determine who really owns the drones^[1].

To trace the "ends", the FBI, one of several investigating agencies, is asking people across the country to share videos, photos and other information that may show drones.

The objects were initially spotted over U.S. critical infrastructure sites

Initial sightings of objects over US critical infrastructure facilities. New Jersey Police Chief Joseph Orlando warned on 4 December that drones appearing over Picatinny Arsenal, a company that develops weapons for the US military, posed a danger. The US Federal Aviation Administration imposed restrictions on UAV flights in the area for security reasons, while the FBI launched an investigation. Nevertheless, the number of unmanned aircraft is only increasing.

The arrows are pointing at Joe Biden's administration for not being tough enough. Donald Trump blames the latter for its lax actions. He posted on social media:

"The government knows more than it's saying. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!". 

To reassure local people, officials from the FBI, the Pentagon, the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies told a White House briefing on Saturday that drones do not threaten national or public security. At the time, the agencies reported that most drones are legally manned aircraft. 

It is known that an airspace closure near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was imposed after an influx of drones was noticed. On Friday evening, runways at Stewart International Airport were closed for about an hour due to drone activity in the airspace^[2].

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said on Thursday that drones should be "shot down if necessary". He was joined by a New Jersey congressman who called on the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to shoot down one or more of the drones to find out who deployed them.

"The maneuvering of these unmanned aerial vehicles suggests that they have the military capability, which raises the question of whether they were deployed to test our defense capabilities, or worse, by violent dictatorships, perhaps Russia, China, Iran or North Korea," said US Republican Chris Smith.

But Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden argued that people should not shoot down drones.

New Jersey politicians frustrated by federal government inaction over drone sightings

The scratching of heads over who sent the drones has raised concerns about national security. White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said:

"At this point, we have no evidence that the drones pose a threat to national security or public safety, or are foreign-related." While numerous unmanned aerial vehicles have been reported, Kirby said that video evidence shows that many of the "objects are manned aircraft that are being used legally". 

But people want clearer information. 

New Jersey Assemblyman Eric Peterson said on 14 December that the government is deceiving the American people.

"They are lying to us. First of all, they say you don't see what you see. And then they say they don't know what it is. They don't know what is happening. It's all a lie," the politician said.

Several New Jersey politicians have also expressed frustration with the federal government's inaction^[3].

There is speculation that drones may evade radar by not emitting frequencies

Private air security firms have shared insights into how investigators in New Jersey could track the latest drone sightings.

"You can detect a radio frequency signal," said Mary-Lou Smulders, chief marketing officer at Dedrone, a private airspace security firm. On the other hand, it is thought that drones may be able to evade radar detection by not emitting frequencies. 

The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other federal and state agencies continue investigating the situation. Some of the first drones are known to have been spotted in mid-November near Morris County. Between 13 November and 6 December, 11 reports of evening drone activity were received near a facility in Wharton. Some people described the drones as being the size of a bicycle or even a car.

Secretary of Defence L. Austin signed a classified "Counter Unmanned Systems Strategy"

A statement released on 5 December notes that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has signed a classified "Counter-Unmanned Systems Strategy" with the Department of Defence.

"Unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, currently pose a threat to the US," the report says.

"Until we know the origin and intent of these drones, how can we say that there is no imminent threat?", wondered Tony Perry, Mayor of Middletown, New Jersey.

The head of a company that monitors unauthorized drone flights said it had recorded more than a million flight violations.

"The laws governing drones are not designed to give police the power to fight drones," Axon CEO Rick Smith said on Friday. This means that if a drone is flying towards a state and it could be dangerous, there is nothing that can be done.

The situation is being compared to the Chinese balloon incident a couple of years ago, which was shot down just a few days after flying over a large part of the US, with the authorities accused of inaction. The device then travelled a considerable distance across the country before the military shot it down.

In fact, unidentified drones also flew over the Brunsbuttel district in northern Schleswig-Holstein in August. Officials have not ruled out the possibility that the drones were part of a Russian "espionage campaign". However, an investigation found no evidence of espionage. Drones were also spotted at sites belonging to the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall. The company is working with Ukraine to supply Kiev with weapons.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have also been spotted in recent months flying over strategically important sites in Germany, including a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Brunsbuettel near the North Sea. Prosecutors investigated the incident on suspicion of "agent activity for sabotage purposes". German intelligence chiefs have warned that the country's support for Ukraine in its war with Russia makes it a target for possible sabotage attempts.