A large number of unidentified drones were spotted flying over Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home to B-52 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, prompting a lockdown earlier this month. The incident began on March 9 when security forces detected multiple waves of 12 to 15 drones operating over sensitive areas, including the flight line.
According to a confidential briefing document obtained by ABC News, the drones displayed non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links, and resistance to jamming. The incursions lasted for nearly a week, with flights occurring for around four hours each day within restricted airspace.
A shelter-in-place order was issued on March 9 and lifted later that day, but drone activity continued. Captain Hunter Rininger of the 2nd Bomb Wing confirmed the incident, stating that flying a drone over a military installation is a criminal offense under federal law. The Air Force is working with federal and local law enforcement to investigate.
Experts suggested the drones were custom-built and required advanced knowledge of signal operations, indicating deliberate intent. The incident follows recent sightings of unidentified drones over Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington D.C., where senior government officials reside, amid heightened security concerns related to the war in Iran.
