Unexplained Drones and UFOs: Investigating the Navy's Response

As mysterious drones continue to invade American skies, the question arises: are they harmless toys or harbingers of a greater threat? Recent revelations have shed light on how the military is struggling to understand and address these aerial phenomena as they increasingly infringe on national security.

Under the Radar

In December 2023, the head of NORAD and Northcom informed Congress that dozens of drones had been detected flying over sensitive military sites, including Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Over a span of 17 consecutive nights, small unmanned aerial systems—some no larger than commercial quadcopters, others as big as a car—entered restricted airspace, forcing the relocation of advanced F-22 Raptors. Sightings were first reported near New Jersey, the Palo Verde nuclear plant in Arizona, and the Pikatini Arsenal in northern New Jersey, where eleven incursions were confirmed by the Army in late 2023. These episodes mark a concerning pattern of low-altitude intrusions that often remain “under the radar” of existing air defense systems.

The Challenge of Detection

Cold War–era radars at NORAD were designed to spot high-altitude bombers and missiles, not small, slow-moving drones. Retired General Glenn Van Herk explained that the systems “couldn’t detect low-flying drones that could be seen with the naked eye,” leaving a critical capability gap. Authorities cannot simply shoot down unidentified drones without first confirming they are not civilian. As Van Herk cautioned, “Firing missiles in our homeland is not taken lightly,” because falling debris could endanger the public. Meanwhile, the FBI has scoured potential options for counter-drone measures but has found no single solution, as similar intrusions from the past five years remain unsolved.

A Growing Concern

Beyond Virginia and New Jersey, naval vessels off the California coast were shadowed by swarms of drones for weeks in 2019. Logs from the USS Paul Hamilton recorded multiple UAS operating 100 feet above the bow, and sightlines suggested the craft launched from a nearby freighter but lacked proof. According to defense news outlet The War Zone, there have been documented drone encroachments at the Palo Verde nuclear plant in Arizona, an experimental weapons facility in Southern California, and military installations in the UK where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored. The dual-use nature of drones means they can conduct both espionage and kinetic attacks—Ukraine has already demonstrated how inexpensive UAVs can disable advanced Russian fighters.

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

A broader category has entered the lexicon: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP. The Department of Defense’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) and its successor, the UAP Task Force, have collected hundreds of military reports that lack conventional explanations. Former intelligence official Luis Elizondo—who ran AATIP—told 60 Minutes:

“Imagine a technology that can pull 600 to 700 G-forces, fly at 13,000 miles per hour, evade radar, and transition between air and water without visible propulsion. That’s precisely what we’re seeing.”

Navy aviators from the USS Nimitz encountered a “tic-tac” shaped object off San Diego in 2004 that accelerated “faster than a fighter jet,” disappeared and reappeared miles away, and executed maneuvers outside known aeronautics. Lieutenant Ryan Graves reported daily sightings off Virginia Beach once his F-18 radar was upgraded, confirming objects hovering against 120-knot winds. Government scientists have ruled out weather balloons, flares, and celestial bodies in many cases, emphasizing that some UAP may reflect emerging adversary technologies.

State of the Navy – Part 1

While the UAP and drone mysteries unfold, the U.S. Navy faces strategic challenges in the Pacific. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, has witnessed China expand from 37 vessels in the early 2000s to over 350 today. According to a CIA assessment, China could have the capacity to seize Taiwan by force as early as 2027. The U.S. currently fields 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers compared to China’s two diesel-powered ones, but Chinese anti-ship missiles like the DF-21 “carrier killers” can strike from long range. Paparo insists the Navy’s presence ensures a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” but acknowledges that the fleet must maintain technological superiority against evolving threats.

State of the Navy – Part 2

Congressional leaders from both parties have sounded alarms about fleet size and readiness. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI), who chairs the new House China Committee, warns that the Navy could shrink to just 280 ships by 2027—just as China reaches peak capability. Former Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-VA), a 20-year naval veteran, adds that two decades of underinvestment have led to “a lost generation of shipbuilding.” Programs like the Zumwalt-class destroyers and Littoral Combat Ships were billions over budget, while maintenance backlogs delayed deployments by thousands of days. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday maintains “the Navy is not in crisis,” but stresses that innovation—particularly in unmanned surface and undersea vessels—will be critical to future success.

Conclusion: Embracing Action

As unexplained drones, UAP, and naval power competition converge, one imperative stands out:

• The U.S. must accelerate development of advanced detection, identification, and counter-drone systems while bolstering naval readiness to deter near-peer rivals.

Will these measures prove sufficient to safeguard American skies and seas? In an era of increasingly ambiguous threats, a robust investigation and adaptive response remain central to national security.