Securing the Skies: Addressing Unauthorized Drone Activity Over U.S. Military Installations

House Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs

2025-04-29

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This hearing of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs addressed the complex and serious national security threat posed by the unauthorized use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) over U.S. military installations and sensitive sites, highlighting the urgent need for a more coordinated and effective response against these incursions.[ 00:28:17-00:28:24 ] The discussion emphasized the current challenges arising from ambiguous legal authorities, inadequate counter-drone capabilities, and interagency confusion, which collectively create significant gaps in national security.[ 00:28:59-00:29:34 ]

Themes

Threat of Unauthorized Drone Incursions

Unauthorized drone incursions over military installations are a growing and serious threat to national security, with over 350 detections at 100 different military installations in the past year alone.[ 00:29:56 ]

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 These are not mere hobbyist activities but coordinated efforts by adversaries to collect valuable intelligence and conduct surveillance of sensitive military equipment.[ 00:28:42 ] Notable incidents include a 17-day incursion at Langley Air Force Base in December 2023, which forced F-22 Raptor squadrons to relocate, and the arrest of Chinese nationals for illegally flying drones over military sites.[ 00:29:48-00:29:53 ]

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[ 00:29:58-00:30:00 ]

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 The potential integration of AI into drone technology, enabling autonomous navigation, target identification, and weaponization, further exacerbates this exponentially increasing threat.[ 01:07:18-01:07:31 ]

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Challenges in Counter-UAS Efforts

A significant challenge lies in the complex regulatory and prosecutorial framework, which involves multiple federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, Intelligence Community, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security, leading to confusion and gaps in identifying and mitigating threats.[ 00:29:24-00:29:34 ]

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 Many base commanders currently possess inadequate or non-existent monitoring and counter-drone capabilities, and the capabilities that do exist vary widely and are not comprehensive.[ 00:28:59 ] Legal authorities are ambiguous, particularly regarding the definition of a "covered facility" under Section 130i, which applies to only about half of all military installations, thus limiting the ability of many bases to respond effectively to incursions.[ 00:47:44 ]

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 Base commanders also face difficulties in determining "hostile intent" for an appropriate response under standing rules of engagement and lack the authority to detain individuals operating drones off-base, requiring coordination with local law enforcement.[ 00:46:42 ]

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Proposed Solutions and Progress

To address these issues, the Department of Defense has designated U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as counter-UAS operational synchronizers in their respective areas of responsibility, and NORTHCOM has released a comprehensive standard operating procedure for base commanders.[ 00:38:26-00:39:03 ]

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 Efforts are underway to enhance domain awareness through investment in education, training, and the rapid acquisition of sensors and "flyaway kits" to improve detection capabilities. The DoD is also seeking legislative refinements to Section 130i, proposing to make its authorities permanent, expand coverage to all military installations, and facilitate data sharing with interagency partners to improve tactics and technology development. Internal policy reviews have streamlined counter-UAS documentation to provide clearer guidance to commanders, reflecting a commitment to a "whole-of-government" approach and fostering collaboration at all levels.[ 01:13:25-01:14:04 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The overall tone of the meeting was serious and urgent, with members expressing deep concern over the escalating national security threat posed by drones.[ 00:28:17-00:28:24 ] [ 00:32:18 ]

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 There was a palpable sense of frustration regarding bureaucratic delays and interagency inefficiencies that have hindered effective responses to past incursions.[ 00:29:24-00:29:34 ]

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 Despite these frustrations, a collaborative and determined spirit prevailed, with members and witnesses alike emphasizing the need for legislative action, technological upgrades, and improved coordination to safeguard U.S. military assets and personnel.[ 00:33:02-00:33:04 ]

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Participants

Transcript

This hearing of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs will come to order.  I'd like to welcome everyone.  Without objection, the chair may declare a recess at any time.  I recognize myself for the purpose of making an opening statement.   Thank you for joining us today as we discuss one of the most complex and serious threats to our national security, the unauthorized use of unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, over US military installations and sensitive sites.  In recent years, we've seen a surge in drone incursions over military installations across the country.  In 2024, the Department of Defense stated that there are more than one million drones registered in the United States and estimated that there are   More than 8,500 drones flown legally across the country every day.  I've even seen some of these drone incursions firsthand during my time in the South Carolina Air National Guard.  However, these incursions are not from hobbyists being blown off course.  The multitude of drones reported flying over bases in the past several years revealed a coordinated effort by our adversaries to collect valuable intelligence and surveillance of some of our most sensitive military equipment.   These incursions often are designed to disrupt important trainings and create chaos for a number of reasons.  Number one, base commanders have inadequate or non-existent monitoring capabilities.  Two, a near total lack of counter drone capabilities.  Three, unclear standard operating procedures to guide base commanders to responses and decision making.  And finally four, ambiguous legal authorities both on and off base.   This threat is magnified by the complex regulatory and prosecutorial framework that was patched together by the previous administration in what I would argue is a poor attempt to address this issue.  Right now, the Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, Intelligence Community, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security are all involved in some aspects of the counter UAS efforts.   As a result, there is no agency with primary authority on countering drone incursions, leading to confusion and more importantly, gaps on how to identify and mitigate this threat.
This interagency failure was on full display last winter when hundreds of drones were spotted in the skies above New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast.  After several temporary flight restrictions and mass confusion among state, local, and federal partners, the Biden administration provided the public no answers what was happening above them.  However, with only a few weeks of the current administration taking office, they revealed that the drones over New Jersey were actually authorized by the FAA.   This instance raises multiple questions as to why the previous administration left the American people in the dark for over a month when they knew the simple truth.  Another notable incident occurred at Langley Air Force Base in December of 2023.  Over 17 days, unidentified drones repeatedly breached our sensitive military airspace, one of most America's critical installations.   The F-22 Raptor squadrons were moved to alternate bases to lessen exposure, and discussions were initiated on installing physical countermeasures.  These are not isolated incidents.  In February, the commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM testified to Congress that there were over 350 detections of drones at 100 different military installations last year alone.  Additionally, since 2023, two Chinese nationals have been arrested for illegally flying drones over military installations to conduct   One of these individuals was caught attempting to flee the US and return to China with sensitive footage he had recorded.   Today, this committee will hear from officials from the Department of Defense on what the Trump administration is doing to help combat this issue and bring an end to these illegal drone incursions.  We must demand full accountability, expedited technological upgrades, and enhanced oversight to safeguard our sovereignty and ensure that our military remains unexposed to foreign surveillance and potential threats.   I'm hopeful that our witnesses here today have suggestions on how Congress can help empower the right federal agencies to combat this problem and secure the skies above our military bases.
I now recognize Ranking Member Subramaniam for the purpose of making an opening statement.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Thank you for holding this important hearing and thank you to our witnesses for being here today and for your service to our country and to making our airspace safe.   It's clear that UAS is an issue right now.  It's the future of warfare from the war in Ukraine to our own military bases in the continental United States.  We are seeing real time that UAS are redefining how battles are fought and how intelligences gather.   I believe it's been 350 drones that have been reported in the last year, over 100 different military installations.  That's 350 different potential national security breaches that we know of.  These include highly sensitive sites such as nuclear facilities and major military bases, and that's a huge threat to our national security and the lives of our service members.  And unfortunately, our lack of coordinated effective response   needs to be addressed immediately.  And I know everyone here today wants to work on it and is planning on working on it.  And so we're familiar with this issue in my home state and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  In December 2023, service members at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia saw drones hovering over their airspace for 17 days.  And Langley, for those who don't know, is home to key national security assets like the F-22 Raptor, Stealth Fighter.  And it plays an important role in keeping us safe here in our nation's capital.   We also have some important naval assets in that area too.

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