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New Jersey Drones - 2024

"Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!" President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump claimed without evidence that the government knows where the mysterious drones are from — but won’t tell the public. “For some reason, they want to keep people in suspense,” Trump said at a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida on 16 December 2024. “I can’t imagine it’s the enemy because if it was the enemy they’d blast it out,” he continued. Trump also said that he canceled a trip to Bedminster, New Jersey, where his golf club is located, out of caution for the drones, though officials have insisted there’s no reason to believe the sightings pose a safety risk. The president-elect also claimed that the military and President Joe Biden know where drones are coming from, and where they’re going. "The government knows what is happening. Our military knows where they took off from. They know where it came from and where it went. Something strange is going on. For some reason, they don't want to comment. Our military knows and our president knows."

Joe Biden on 17 December 2024 made his first public comments on reports of unexplained sightings in the northeast. Asked by reporters what was behind the drones, Biden answered: “Nothing nefarious, apparently, but they’re checking it all out.” He added that authorities are “following this closely,” but so far there is “no sense of danger.”

In an interview with Fox News on 11 December 2024, US congressman Jeff Van Drew said “high-ranking sources” had informed him that “Iran was behind the drones. “That mothership… is off the East Coast of the United States of America. They’ve launched drones into everything that we can see or hear,” he said. Congressman Van Drew told Fox News on December 10 that “First, a Chinese spy balloon drifted across U.S. airspace for a week. Now, unidentified drones are flying over New Jersey, avoiding radar detection. Gaps in our airspace are being exploited, and because of it, the safety of Americans is at risk.”

"I'm also on the transportation committee on the aviation subcommittee and I've gotten people and from very high sources very qualified sources uh very responsible sources I'm going to tell you the real deal - Iran launched a mother ship probably about a month ago that contains these drones that mothership is off I'm going to tell you the deal it's off the east coast of the United States of America they've launched drones everything that we can see or here and again these are from high sources."

Congressman Jeff Van Drew noted 11 December 2024 "What we’ve uncovered is alarming—drones flying in from the direction of the ocean, possibly linked to a missing Iranian mothership. This is a national security crisis we cannot ignore. Bring them down now. ... First, a Chinese spy balloon drifted across U.S. airspace for a week. Now, unidentified drones are flying over New Jersey, avoiding radar detection. Gaps in our airspace are being exploited, and because of it, the safety of Americans is at risk.... Here's the deal. They don't know what it is. They don't know what it's about. They haven't taken one down to analyze it. They have no idea where it came from. We are not being told the truth".

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: "It’s a slap in the face that the Pentagon continues to tell the American people they don’t know who is flying the drones over New Jersey. I think the Pentagon absolutely knows, but they’re full of crap. And if they actually don’t know, these officials should resign in disgrace. Luckily, in just a few more weeks, we will have people in charge who can tell us what this is."

Republican Tony Gonzales called the situation “madness” at a Congress hearing on Tuesday in Washington, DC after Robert Wheeler, the FBI assistant director, told Congress at a hearing focusing on the drone case, that the agency did not have any answers on who is behind the flights. “The bureau is actively investigating the situation….we do not attribute that [the drones] to an individual or a group yet. But I don’t have an answer of who’s responsible…,” Wheeler said.

In the United States, a string of unexplained drone sightings over the state of New Jersey has raised security concerns. The Pentagon has said it had no evidence of foreign or enemy activity. The FBI was investigating. The drones have been spotted flying over critical infrastructure such as US military research facilities and police departments.

The night skies over New Jersey have come alight as dozens of mystery drones have been spotted flying over the state, including near United States President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in the town of Bedminster. The drones, which some residents say appear larger than hobbyist drones – those used for recreational purposes – have been spotted almost every night flying over the northeastern US state since November 18 and were initially sighted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research and manufacturing facility.

In a post on Facebook on December 4, cautioning residents of Florham Park, a borough in New Jersey, about the drones, chief of police Joseph Orlando wrote: “Over the past two weeks, the (drone) sightings have been occurring nightly…beginning just after sunset and lasting well into the early morning hours.” He described the appearance of the drones as “nefarious in nature”. He also noted that the drones are flying above critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, train stations, police departments and military installations.

On December 5, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy wrote on social media platform X, that “there is no known threat to the public at this time.” He stated "I convened a briefing with @SecMayorkas, senior officials from @DHSgov, @NJOHSP, and @NJSP, and members of our congressional delegation to discuss reported drone activity over parts of North and Central New Jersey. We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter."

Then on 09 December 2024, Murphy told local media that the number of sightings had increased in December. He said there were 49 sightings of drones over the state on December 8 alone. But he added that some sightings might have been duplicates. But some residents including New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, continue to be on edge. “We know nothing. PERIOD. To state that there is no known or credible threat is incredibly misleading, and I informed all officials of that sentiment,” she wrote on X. At the moment, no one in the US, including the Pentagon and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has been able to answer this question.

Following a meeting with state police and Homeland Security officials on 11 December 2024, Assemblywoman Fantasia wrote on X that the drones appeared large (up to 1.8 metres – 6ft – in diameter) and were operating in an “uncoordinated manner”. She added that they sometimes travel with their lights turned off, making them difficult to detect and are flying in an unrestricted airspace. “(They) appear to avoid detection by traditional methods (e.g., helicopters, radio frequencies),” she wrote on X.

Unknown drones have paralyzed operations at Stewart Airport in the state of New York, and the situation with mysterious drones that have been frightening Americans for several weeks has "gone too far," Governor Kathy Hochul said. The state governor also called for federal assistance amid the incident. "Last night, the runways at Stewart Airfield were shut down for approximately one hour due to drone activity in the airspace. This has gone too far," Hochul said in a statement. The FAA states that all drones flown at night should be equipped with “anti-collision lights visible from at least three statute miles”. Fantasia added that at the meeting, authorities noted that the drones fly for “extended periods (6-7 hours) and over a distance of 15 miles (24km)”, prompting further questions about the drones’ technology and intent.

While US Federal authorities scramble for answers about where the drones have been launched from and what their purpose is, residents in New Jersey have been posting videos of the drone sightings on social media.

However, deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters at a news briefing in Washington, DC, on 11 December 2024: “There is absolutely no truth to that. “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,” she said. She added that, according to the Pentagon’s initial assessment, the drones have not been launched by any “foreign entity”.

Guided by the Department of Defense Strategy for Countering Unmanned Systems signed by the Secretary of Defense on December 2, 2024, the Commander, U.S. Northern Command will serve as the lead synchronizer for Homeland Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (HC-sUAS) Department of Defense operations in the Continental United States and Alaska as designated by the Secretary of Defense. The role enables USNORTHCOM to align and focus various DOD HC-sUAS efforts into a cohesive approach to include synchronizing, integrating, and coordinating efforts within its area of responsibility. This involves preparing to conduct counter-sUAS operations, establishing and maintaining a response plan, and tracking and responding to sUAS incidents. USNORTHCOM will also develop and maintain a laydown of counter-UAS equipment and its availability and assist military services with counter-sUAS training. Ultimately, the mission ensures support to the Military Departments and other DOD components in the protection of installations, facilities, sites, and assets.

At the operational level, USNORTHCOM maintains relationships with federal partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Aviation Administration, which allows the command to streamline response procedures and share information. While the military services and installation commanders will retain the responsibility of providing force protection for their installations, facilities, sites, and assets, USNORTHCOM can coordinate the availability of technology to installations or agencies requesting assistance.

USNORTHCOM stated 11 December 2024 "We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey to include Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, and we refer you to those installations for information on any efforts they are may be conducting to ensure the safety and security of their personnel and operations. Local law enforcement and the FBI are currently investigating.

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. If these incidents require additional DoD assistance, the Secretary of the Military Department or relevant DoD component head concerned can coordinate with USNORTHCOM for an enhanced or increased response. USNORTHCOM, in conjunction with our interagency partners, will continue to assess further information and is prepared to respond when asked or should the situation escalate to threaten any DoD installations."

On December 12, 2024, the FBI and DHS jointly issued a statement on reported drone sightings in New Jersey: “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus. The FBI, DHS and our federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.

“Historically, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity, where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities. We are supporting local law enforcement in New Jersey with numerous detection methods but have not corroborated any of the reported visual sightings with electronic detection. To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space. 

“We take seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which is why law enforcement and other agencies continue to support New Jersey and investigate the reports. To be clear, they have uncovered no such malicious activity or intent at this stage. While there is no known malicious activity occurring in New Jersey, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight the insufficiency of current authorities."

"We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they’re working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources, using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin.

"Using very sophisticated electronic detection technologies provided by federal authorities, we have not been able to — and neither have state or local law enforcement authorities — corroborate any of the reported visual sightings. To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully.

"The United States Coast Guard is providing support to the State of New Jersey and has confirmed that there is no evidence of any foreign-based involvement from coastal vessels. And, importantly, there are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted airspace.

"Now, that said, we certainly take seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems, which is why law enforcement and other agencies continue to support New Jersey and investigate the reports, even though they have uncovered no malicious activity or intent at this particular stage.

"While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities. And so, we urge Congress to pass important legislation that will extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities so that we are better prepared to identify and mitigate any potential threats to airports or other critical infrastructure and so that state and local authorities are provided all the tools that they need to respond to such threats as well."

The Department of Justice strongly supported the Administration’s legislative proposal to extend and expand legal authorities to protect against illicit use of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”). The two pillars of this counter-UAS (“C-UAS”) proposal are expanding federal protective coverage for the most vulnerable sites—such as airports and critical infrastructure—and empowering state, local, tribal, and territorial (“SLTT”) law enforcement partners to engage in C-UAS efforts nationwide, subject to restrictions and oversight. The Administration’s proposal would expand the current § 124n authority in targeted ways based on our experience under the law and our assessment of the growing threat. Current § 124n authority would lapse, so existing programs must be reauthorized to avoid shutting down FBI’s ability to protect mass gatherings.

Notably, the “detection-only” technology that this part of the bill would authorize would not include authority to mitigate the drone through jamming or to otherwise disrupt drones or other aircraft. Rather, the information obtained through detection of drone signals can disclose the location of the drone operator, so that law enforcement or security personnel can locate that operator and address the threat through more traditional means.

DOJ and DHS could designate annually up to 12 SLTT law enforcement entities to engage in both UAS detection and UAS mitigation activities, consistent with the safeguards and oversight required in the bill. Those entities would be required to receive appropriate training and vetting to enable them to both detect and mitigate UAS threats to covered facilities or assets, including mass gatherings. Because these operations could include use of more sensitive mitigation technology, all of their activities would have to be coordinated in advance with federal partners including the FAA.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Homeland Security are withholding information from Americans about unknown drones that have been observed in the skies over New Jersey and the New York suburbs in recent weeks, US House Intelligence Committee member Josh Gottheimer said. Gottheimer told CNN 14 December 2024 the FBI and the Homeland Security Department “have a responsibility to brief the public more thoroughly… They are not providing enough information to the public, and the public is concerned." US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul claimed on 17December 2024 that some unidentified drones spotted above New Jersey and New York were "spy drones" from China. The US media described his remarks as a "bombshell." He rushed to label the unidentified drones as "Chinese spy drones" despite officials from the Biden administration having previously insisted that many of the aircraft were innocent commercial drones. Some American politicians seem to have a special preference for sensationalizing the "China threat." Much like the "spy balloon" incident that unfolded in early 2023, the latest accusations against Chinese drones follow an old script, repackaged with new rhetoric aimed at smearing China. The "spy balloon" that the US shot down with fighter jets turned the country into a laughingstock around the world. Over a year later, some US lawmakers are now aiming to slap the "spy" label on "Chinese drones," using alarmist language to stoke further fear and anxiety about China. Meanwhile, the Pentagon, White House, and Department of Homeland Security have all asserted that these unidentified flying objects have "no foreign origin." But in the eyes of some US politicians, accusations of "spy" don't need to be based on facts, as long as they can defame China. The accusations against "Chinese spy drones" coincide with a recent move in the US Senate, where a provision within the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 aims to create mechanisms for further oversight and prohibition of the use of Chinese drones. The bill seeks to add Chinese drone companies to the Federal Communications Commission's "Covered List," which would prevent their use in telecommunications industries. Proponents of the bill argued that the US should ban Chinese drones, claiming that these drones pose a threat.