Large, often noisy, and launched from unknown locations by unidentified parties, ongoing sightings of mystery drones over New Jersey remain a problem, according to federal officials who are ramping up efforts to get to the bottom of the matter.
The sightings, which have occurred since mid-November, are currently being investigated by federal agencies that include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as local and state law enforcement in New Jersey and surrounding states where observations of the mystery drones have occurred.
Speaking from Washington on Wednesday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed to reporters that the ongoing drone sightings are not linked to any U.S. military drone activities, while also confirming that the Pentagon currently has no evidence to suggest they are being controlled by foreign actors.
“At this time, we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity, or are the work of an adversary,” Singh said yesterday, stating that the DoD was aware of no threats to U.S. military assets resulting from the drone incidents.
Earlier today, Pentagon Spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder reaffirmed that the Pentagon’s assessment that no evidence has been found linking the drones to foreign actors remains unchanged, based on ongoing exchanges with other federal agencies.
On Wednesday, United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) released a statement saying it also is monitoring the situation, and that it has conducted analysis of the incidents, although it has not been formally asked to participate with other federal agencies involved in the investigation.
“We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey,” read a statement released by USNORTHCOM Directorate of Public Affairs.
“U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events, in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners, and at this time we have not been requested to assist with these events,” the statement read, adding that USNORTHCOM will continue to assess the situation, and “is prepared to respond when asked or should the situation escalate to threaten any DoD installations.”
Earlier this month, USNORTHCOM was officially designated the Lead Synchronizer for Homeland Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in the continental U.S. and Alaska.
On Wednesday, Dawn Fantasia, a Republican member of the General Assembly for New Jersey’s 24th legislative district, attended a briefing held for New Jersey State Legislators at the headquarters of the New Jersey State Police, where she said Department of Homeland Security officials told lawmakers they still had few answers regarding the drone incursions.
“We know nothing. PERIOD,” Fantasia said in a posting on social media summarizing key takeaways from the briefing. “To state that there is no known or credible threat is incredibly misleading,” she added.
Fantasia said that the New Jersey State Police and other state authorities were “shackled” in terms of actions that could be taken, and that “Any interception or takedown of any UAS is under the strict jurisdiction of the federal government.”
“At this point, I believe military intervention is the only path forward,” Fantasia wrote, adding that the U.S. Coast Guard would “be the most likely to intervene based upon our briefing, but even that component was shrouded in mystery.”
Homeland Security officials reportedly told Fantasia that sightings have occurred nightly, with as many as 180 sightings in a single night, and most activity reported between dusk and 11 PM.
Many of the drones have been described as large, with some estimates placing them up to 6 feet in diameter and operating “in a coordinated manner.” Currently, the takeoff and landing sites of the drones remains undetermined, although they are believed to maintain prolonged flight periods of up to seven hours, with an estimated range of 15 miles, “raising questions about their technology and intent.”
Fantasia said Homeland Security officials told her some of the drones were difficult to detect for a variety of reasons, which included some operating without lighting, and others appearing to avoid detection by radio frequency emissions or infrared cameras.
DHS officials reportedly confirmed that the mystery drones were not believed to be operated by hobbyists, and that most sightings are occurring “in unrestricted airspace, but their behavior is unusual and potentially nefarious.”
“In-person Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Training starts in Monmouth County in January and will expand statewide,” Fantasia also said.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who was not in attendance at Wednesday’s DHS briefing, called the situation “frustrating” earlier this week, although he maintains that there is no indication that the drones pose a threat to public safety.
Earlier this week, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) claimed that he had been told the drones were being operated by Iran from an alleged mothership located off the U.S. Atlantic coast, citing unnamed sources he deemed “very reliable.”
“Iran launched a mothership probably about a month ago that contains these drones,” Van Drew said during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday. “It’s off the east coast of the United States of America.”
“We know it’s not our own government, because they would have let us know,” Van Drew also said. Van Drew provided no context for the claims beyond his belief that the information came “from high sources.” Presently, Van Drew remains the only official to have made such assertions about alleged Iranian involvement publicly.
Asked at yesterday’s Pentagon press briefing about Van Drew’s claims, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh maintained that the DoD has seen no clear evidence linking the drone sightings to a foreign power, and that “there is not any truth” to Van Drew’s claims.
“There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there’s no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones towards the United States,” Singh said on Wednesday.
Although the Pentagon has poured cold water on the claims involving an Iranian connection, several elected officials in New Jersey have maintained they believe the objects may be originating from somewhere off the Eastern Coast.
“They have tracked these things going out to the water,” said Michael Melham, Mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, earlier this week. “So that’s quite interesting.”
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) similarly told lawmakers at a hearing earlier this week that he had learned of a sighting by a law enforcement officer at Island Beach State Park on Sunday where dozens of drones were reportedly observed flying inland from a launch point somewhere in the ocean.
“One of those officers two nights ago saw 50 drones come in off the ocean,” Smith said on Tuesday.
Smith also said a U.S. Coast Guard official told him that one of its vessels had been followed by a group of drones.
“I think this is a very serious threat,” Smith said of the alleged incidents.
At Wednesday’s breifing in Washington, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the Department of Defense will watch the situation closely as federal and local authorities continue their investigations.
“We’re going to continue to monitor what’s happening,” Singh said.
This article was updated on Dec. 12, 2024 at 3:33 PM to include additional updates on the Pentagon’s position on the situation that were recently provided by Pentagon Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.