Feb 12, 2025
Written By [Christopher Sharp](https://www.liberationtimes.com/?author=610434e320e3e945538177b1)
Written by [Kyle Warfel](https://x.com/UnstblResearch) and [Christopher Sharp](https://twitter.com/ChrisUKSharp) \- 12 February 2025
Newly obtained documentation from the United States Air Force (USAF), acquired by Liberation Times, reveals seven recorded instances of drone incursions over USAF Plant 42 and Palmdale Regional Airport, California, between 2 August and 9 August 2024.
The documentation shows official USAF reports describing rotary-wing drones with blinking lights and camera systems repeatedly hovering over sensitive areas, prompting patrol responses, off-base pursuit attempts, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), with assessments suggesting the drones operated beyond typical hobbyist capabilities.
The reports refer to the objects seen as UXS, meaning Unmanned X Systems, a broad military designation for unmanned aerial, ground, or maritime systems.
Base personnel reported that the objects had camera systems, suggesting potential foreign surveillance activities over one of the U.S.’s most sensitive installations, home to top secret facilities operated by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman – a concern backed up by Commander Reports, which state the incursions reflected ‘potential surveillance/espionage.’
Furthermore, the Commander Reports state that, ‘UXS appeared to have coordinated arrival, departure and flight paths and times.’
The incursions prompted patrol responses and disruptions to flight line operations, according to reporting.
Alarmingly, throughout all seven nights of drone activity, no countermeasures were operational, leaving the objects completely unchallenged.
Commander reports add, ‘currently there is no authorized detection or defeat capability available to the Defense Force.’
That contradicts reporting from Breaking Defense in 2022, [when officials acknowledged](https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/as-classified-b-21-bomber-nears-flight-secret-facility-sees-more-curious-probing/) that the facility had a ‘geo-fence’ that ‘knocks out small drones that users attempt to fly overhead.’\*
Such was the alarm, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department helicopters were brought in to assist on two separate occasions.
Despite the frequency and persistence of the incursions, the reports state that no photos or videos were recorded.
Incursion \#1 – Site 4 Targeted, Tracking Efforts Fail
The first recorded drone incursion at Plant 42 began on 2 August 2024, at around 10.17 PM, when security personnel notified the Base Defense Operations Center that two drones had been seen ‘heading southbound towards site 4.’
Over the next few hours, multiple sightings followed—four drones hovering, circling, and manoeuvring over Site 4’s parking area before drifting west toward Sierra Highway.
By 11:55 PM, the drones had left the area, but security forces weren’t finished.
Determined to uncover their origin, the Flight Chief and S2I intelligence personnel initiated an off-base pursuit at 12:10 AM.
Despite efforts to track at least one drone to its controller, the pursuit came up empty—the drones had disappeared into the night without a trace. The report states:
‘Flight Chief and S2I initiated an off-base pursuit of one of the Drones to track and discover its final destination, with negative results.’
Incursion \#2 – Drone Hovers Motionless For 25 Minutes
The second recorded drone incursion occurred in the early hours of 3 August, beginning at 9:39 PM.
Security personnel tracked five drones manoeuvring across multiple locations within the Plant 42 complex, with sightings at Sites 1, 4, 5, 7, and 9.
One drone, however, stood out. At 12:30 AM, it took up a fixed position over Site 7, hovering motionless for 25 minutes.
Finally, it drifted westward and out of sight at 12:55 AM, along with the other drones. Security personnel marked their flight paths, but once again, no operator was located, and the mystery deepened.
Incursion \#3 – Security Forces Pursue Drones Off-Base And Fail
The third drone incursion at Plant 42 took place late at night on 4 August, beginning at 10:19 PM.
Security patrols detected five drones manoeuvring over Sites 1, 3, 4, and 5, moving southeast in a coordinated pattern.
At 10:24 PM, the Flight Chief and Commander launched an off-base pursuit, tracking two of the drones as they moved southeast beyond Plant 42’s perimeter.
The chase extended as far as 110th Street East, but neither the drones nor their operator were found. At 12:21 AM, security teams expanded their efforts, setting up additional lookout positions at Avenue N and Avenue O, yet once again, the pursuit ended with no results.
Incursion \#4 – Sheriff’s Department Helicopter Joins The Hunt
The fourth drone incursion occurred on the night of 5 August, beginning at 8:48 PM.
Security personnel first detected a drone with a flashing red light moving westbound across Site 2, heading toward Site 4.
Moments later, a drone emitting a flashing green light was reported between Sites 3 and 4.
Concerned by the escalating activity, the FAA tower was contacted, and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) helicopter was brought in to assist.
The helicopter briefly spotted a flashing red light in the distance but ultimately lost contact.
Meanwhile, at 9:30 PM, ground patrols reported ‘two solid white lights and one flashing red light’ moving eastbound, later seen heading north toward Site 5’s fire station.
By 10:05 PM, all drones had vanished westward, and additional off-base surveillance efforts failed to locate their operator.
Incursion \#5 – Mystery Light Aircraft Observed
The fifth recorded incursion took place on the night of 6 August.
An Office of Special Investigations (OSI) team – that had been posted to Plant 42 – briefly spotted a low-flying object heading west, but they were unable to identify it.
It was observed to be an unidentified light aircraft, comparable to a Cessna 172, approaching Plant 42 from the north-northwest. It flew directly over the facility, and then shut off its navigation lights and, possibly, its transponder.
The aircraft loitered over the area in an erratic flight pattern before eventually departing undetected.
Despite an active LASD helicopter in the area, no visual confirmation of the aircraft was apparently made.
Incursion \#6 – Drones Assessed To Be Operating Above Hobbyist Capabilities
The sixth incursion occurred at 9:19 PM on 7 August, when security personnel at Plant 42 spotted a drone hovering over Site 4’s parking lot.
Within seconds, it shifted westward, vanishing into the night.
Minutes later, a drone was seen drifting over Site 1. A drone was then seen moving around Building #553.
The pattern continued for nearly two hours, with five drones detected, circling and loitering over key areas before finally dispersing westward by 11:05 PM.
According to an intelligence assessment, ‘weather data during incident shows UXS can operate above hobbyist capabilities.’
Incursion \#7 – Two Solid Green Lights Observed
The seventh and final recorded incursion occurred late at night on 9 August, beginning at 8:54 PM.
Security teams detected four drones manoeuvring in coordinated patterns over multiple locations.
The drones displayed red, green, and white blinking lights, moving south before looping back east, then west a
*[Read full article at Liberation Times]*