Sep 14, 2024
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) \- 14 September 2024
Liberation Times has obtained twenty-two witness statements and an incident report through a Freedom of Information Act request, following December 2023 ‘drone’ incursions reported over Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
These statements come from members of the 633d Security Forces Squadron, who are responsible for guarding Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
Witnesses reported observing the so-called ‘drones’ ‘moving at rapid speeds’ and displaying ‘flashing red, green, and white lights’.
Concerningly, one witness stated that their dronebuster ‘failed to register’ one of the objects, while another was unable to use a dronebuster ‘due to not having a visual’_.
The objects were spotted in various areas around the base, including the flight line, which is used for servicing and maintaining airplanes, as well as for parking ramps and hangars
The Base Defense Operations Center (BDOC), according to one witness, contacted the local police department, ‘to assist with tracking drones in residential areas off-base’.
Another witness stated that through using night vision goggles, the ‘drone’, ‘had two flashing white lights plus a red and green light on opposing ends of the craft.’
The witness added:
‘The drone was flying north east over the River Point West. After about 30 seconds the drone abruptly changed directions heading 140 degrees South East of my location into the wood line.’
Witnesses record seeing swarms of objects in the area, with one stating:
‘On 6 December 2023, between the hours of approximately 1830 and 2300, I witnessed between 15 and 20 sUAS \[small Unmanned Aircraft Systems\] enter and leave the installation at various different locations as \[redacted\].
>
‘We did constant sector sweeps around the installation, but I was unable to utilize \[redacted\]. The most common locations were \[redacted\] King Street Gate and Ward Road coming towards the flightline. On 7 December 2023 I was posted at Golf-3 and became a mobile unit after 2000 hrs. I saw approximately 6 sUAS throughout the night at the parking lot near building 330 and near Ward Road heading towards King Street Gate, \[redacted\].
>
‘On 11 December 2023 I was posted at \[redacted\] and was dispatched approximately 3 times on the flightline but was unable to utilize the drone buster due to not having a visual on the possible sUAS. On 15 December 2023 I was posted at \[redacted\] and was dispatched one time to conduct an IVA \[Initial Visual Assessment\] on a possible sUAS but was unable to get a visual due to dense fog.’
On 6 December, another witness recalled seeing nine drones in a diamond formation heading for the base’s flight line:
‘ I spotted nine (09) drones in diamond formation flying over \[redacted\] heading towards the Flight Line. \[Redacted\] and I followed the swarm onto the flight line where we lost visual of the swarm over the bay.’
Despite no evidence presented that all objects seen were drones, one witness stated that they were ‘able to verify’ that one of the objects seen on 7 December 2023 was a fixed wing drone, despite other witnesses recalling how objects would hover.
The events call into question the security of U.S. airbases, despite U.S. defense spending reaching almost $900 billion.
Liberation Times has reached out to the Department of Defense (DoD) for a response on its ability to secure airspace against drones and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).
A United States Air Force spokesperson responded:
“We don’t discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect our installations.
>
“The Air Force continues to monitor our air space and work with local law enforcement and other federal agencies to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets.”
The threat posed by drones to defense installations has grown significantly in recent years. [Ukraine recently claimed](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-carries-out-largest-drone-attack-yet-russian-airbases-kyiv-source-says-2024-08-14/) to have attacked four Russian air bases using drones, highlighting this escalating risk.
Langley Air Force Base is of particular importance for U.S. security, being one of a select few bases hosting F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and for supporting NORAD and NORTHCOM’s missions to protect the U.S. homeland, including the capital, Washington, D.C.
The area is also home to important U.S. Navy and commercial shipyards and a host of other critical defense installations.
Such was the risk posed by the objects in December 2023, [an entire fighter wing was relocated to another base.](https://x.com/ChrisKMellon/status/1778150411947442600)
Speaking with Liberation Times, a retired USAF veteran with extensive base security experience, who served in both Air Combat Command and Special Operations Command, stated:
‘If these are drones with cameras I’d suspect China or a “near-peer”.
>
‘I’d like to know more. This is disconcerting, to say the least. If there were a potential non-human UAP over the base, I wouldn’t be surprised if security forces would put out a false report to throw people off of the “real story.”’
An official incident report was filed by personnel at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, including officers ranked O-3 (Captain) and O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel).
The report includes claims that on 6 December 2023, ‘drones’ were witnessed with cameras, sparking concerns of possible foreign surveillance:
‘On 6 December 2023, at 1845 hrs \[redacted\] contacted BDOC \[Base Defense Operations Center\] to report a possible drone sighting over the Shellbank Fitness Center travelling towards \[redacted\] near the NASA \[redacted\] BDOC \[Base Defense Operations Center\] directed all posts and patrols to initiate sector sweeps.
>
‘Throughout the duration of the incident, there were an estimated 15-20 drones over Langley AFB and Bethel Manor. The drones were approximately 3’ x 3’, with four rotors, and had cameras. They consistently stayed around 1500’-2000’ in the air.
>
‘They primarily focussed on the following locations: \[redacted\] the Bay near Ward Rd. The Marina \[redacted\] Housing, and \[redacted\]. The drones were consistently egressing south towards King Street in Hampton and Northeast towards Poquoson. The response lasted until 2330 hrs. At 0020 hrs and 0120 hrs, patrols conducted sector sweeps and initiated LP/ OPs with negative findings. At 0125 hrs, Security Forces terminated their response.’
However, The Hill opinion contributor Marik Von Rennenkampff holds some doubts on whether the objects represented foreign surveillance activities, telling Liberation Times:
‘The multiple, consistent reports of bright, flashing lights and formation flying suggest that some actor – be it a drone operator or otherwise – was putting on a show of impunity, at considerable risk, over a key military facility.
>
‘If this was a foreign intelligence gathering operation, the brazen nature of the incursions makes it some of the worst collection tradecraft imaginable.’
Von Rennenkampff also drew parallels with other so-called ‘drone’ incidents involving U.S. defense assets, highlighting that anti-drone defenses failed to shoot down objects.
He commented:
‘Notably, in at last one instance, counter-drone technology “failed to register the drone.”’
>
‘Given the str
*[Read full article at Liberation Times]*