The Pentagon on Wednesday shot down a statement by a New Jersey Congressman that there is an “Iranian mothership off the coast of the United States launching… drone incursions.” The claim by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew came as more and more people are seeing things in the sky they believe to be drones, blurring the line between hysteria and real national security concerns. The War Zone was the first to report about the New Jersey sightings that have since reached a fever pitch in the national consciousness. At the same time, the U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed an incident with one of their ships off New Jersey that was followed by unidentified aircraft.
🚨 “Iran Launched a Mothership” 🚨
Rep. Jeff Van Drew says very high sources told him Iran placed a ship in the Atlantic Ocean a month ago and appear to be responsible for the drone incursions over New Jersey.
“This is a clear and present danger to the United States.” pic.twitter.com/RqXPDNvqwO
— UAP James (@UAPJames) December 11, 2024
“There is not any truth to that,” Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters, including from The War Zone, Wednesday afternoon about Drew’s claim, made during a hearing Wednesday morning on the FAA’s budget. “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, no so-called mothership launching drones off the coast of the United States.”
I asked Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh about Cong Jeff Van Drew’s assertion that the drones over NJ are coming from an Iranian mothership that he says left Tehran a month ago and that the drones are being launched from this mothership off the East Coast of the U.S.… https://t.co/3EG7WXJEJf
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) December 11, 2024
U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) told us it has “no evidence or credible intelligence that any ship from either Iran or other known adversary is involved in any way with the recent reports of drone activity near the New York or New Jersey area.” The command was recently given the authority to synchronize the U.S. military’s response to drone incursions. You can read more about the Pentagon’s new counter-drone policies unveiled last week in our deep dive here.
While officials dismissed the mother ship claim, the Coast Guard on Wednesday confirmed that “multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park, New Jersey,” LT Luke Pinneo said in a statement. “While no immediate threats or disruptions to operations were identified, the Coast Guard is assisting the FBI and state agencies to understand the type, origin, and intent of these aircraft and address potential risks to safety and security. We take any and all aircraft activity near federal assets seriously and urge the public to report any suspicious activity to local authorities.”
The Coast Guard statement came in response to our questions about claims made by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith on Tuesday that a 47-foot Coast Guard ship “was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water — followed, right behind them.”
Actual Jersey Shore:
A Commanding Officer in New Jersey Coast Guard told Rep. Chris Smith his 47-foot ship “was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water — followed, right behind them,” Smith told FBI, DOJ & CBP officials today. https://t.co/gnQRacslgc pic.twitter.com/avbizOtblL
— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) December 10, 2024
That the Coast Guard quickly confirmed unidentified aircraft flew over one of its vessels is in stark contrast to how the Navy handled drone flights over its warships off the southern California coastline. As we were the first to report from a response to our federal Freedom of Information Act query, the mysterious swarming of U.S. Navy ships off the Southern California occurred over multiple days. You can read more about that in our reporting from the time here.
Though it denied the Iranian mothership claim, NORTHCOM is taking reports about drones flying over New Jersey seriously.
“We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey to include Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle,” the command said. It deferred comment about what actions are being taken in response to those installations.
“U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events, in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners, and at this time we have not been requested to assist with these events,” NORTHCOM explained. “If these incidents require additional DoD assistance, the Secretary of the Military Department or relevant DoD component head concerned can coordinate with USNORTHCOM for an enhanced or increased response. USNORTHCOM, in conjunction with our interagency partners, will continue to assess further information and is prepared to respond when asked or should the situation escalate to threaten any DoD installations.”
#USNORTHCOM Statement regarding reports of drone activity in New Jersey. "USNORTHCOM conducted a deliberate analysis of the events, in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners… at this time we have not been requested to assist with these events." pic.twitter.com/7vf1wXUkYt
— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) December 11, 2024
Picatinny Arsenal could not immediately be reached for comment today. On Dec. 3 spokesman Tim Rider told us that “Picatinny Arsenal Police Department did receive an unconfirmed report on Monday evening. Because it is an active investigation, please direct any further queries on the topic to the FBI.”
U.S. Army photo
Naval Weapons Station Earle confirmed to us today that there was “at least one instance of an unidentified drone entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle,” facility spokesman William Addison told us. He declined to specify when the incursion happened, what type of drones, or how the base responded**.**
The facility, located in Colts Neck, New Jersey about 20 miles south of New York City, “is aware of the reports of increased drone activity in New Jersey and Monmouth County and we are actively monitoring the situation,” Addison added. “We have received reports from our neighboring communities and law enforcement partners regarding drone activity near the installation**.**“
The FBI, which is leading the investigation into the drone sightings, told us it had no updates on Wednesday
In addition to the two military installations, authorities say spottings of drones above critical infrastructure including reservoirs, electrical transmission lines, rail stations and police departments have occurred. The issue of drone incursions has become so concerning that Congress on Tuesday held a hearing on the matter. Robert Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group for the FBI, testified that the bureau has few details about the incursions, which began on Nov. 18 over Picatinny and the surrounding area and have since spread all over New Jersey.
“The bureau is actively investigating the unexplained sighting of drone activity over that part of New Jersey, including proximity to sensitive sites and areas of concern,” Wheeler explained. “We do not attribute that to an individual or group yet. I don’t have an answer of who’s responsible, one or more people that are responsible, but we’re actively investigating.”
On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters that he has spoken with White House officials about the ‘very sophisticated’ drones over New Jersey. “The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark… This is something we’re taking deadly seriously.”
While speaking at an unrelated bill signing event in Princeton, Murphy noted there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday, mostly in Hunterdon County, according to The Associated Press. Murphy explained that those numbers “included possible sightings and potentially the same drone being reported more than once.”
“This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated,” Murphy said.
NEW: Governor Phil Murphy has spoken with White House officials about the ‘very sophisticated’ drones over New Jersey.
“The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark… This is something we’re taking deadly seriously.” pic.twitter.com/aS12aM693P
— UAP James (@UAPJames) December 9, 2024
Last week the FBI was asking the public to report drone incursions.
“Witnesses have spotted the cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed-wing aircraft,” FBI spokesperson Amy Thoreson said in a statement on Dec. 3. “We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks.”
The FBI Newark, NJ State Police and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness “are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River,” the statement continued.
Responding to the spate of drone incursions, the FAA enacted two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights without prior permission over Picatinny Arsenal and the Trump National Golf Course Bedminster without permission. The Picatinny TFR went into effect Nov. 25 and ends Dec. 26 while the one over Trump National was initiated Nov. 22 and slated to end Dec. 6, but was subsequently extended to Dec. 20
Officials at Trump National could not be reached for comment on Tuesday and have yet to respond to our first query when we asked about possible drone incursions over or near the facility back on Nov. 20.
Drones can be operated over those locations in support of national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue or natural disaster response, as well as event operations and approved commercial flights, according to the TFR.
Any drones violating the restriction are subject to “the interference, disruption, seizing, damaging or destruction of the unmanned [aircraft]” by the Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice,” the TFRs note.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) over Picatinny Arsenal. (FAA)
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) over Trump National Golf Course Bedminster. (FAA)
In a statement, the FAA said last week it had “received reports of drone activity near Morris County, New Jersey, on Monday, Nov. 18. At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights” over the base and golf course. It is unclear if any drones flew over the Trump golf course.
“We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate,” the statement continued. “Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000. In addition, we can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates.”
Trump has been threatened with drone attacks before.
Nearly four years ago, Iran made a veiled threat of a drone strike on Trump with an image posted on social media. It depicted what appeared to be the shadow of one of Iran’s flying wing-type unmanned aircraft — designs that are supposedly derived, at least in its shape, from a captured U.S. RQ-170 stealth drone — some of which are capable of dropping small munitions, looming over a figure that seems clearly intended to represent Trump taking a swing on a golf course. That tweet, by ran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was in retaliation for the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani ordered by Trump. It led to his account being banned. You can see an image from the tweet below.
This image in this tweet caused Twitter to ban the account of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2021. (Twitter sceen cap) www.twz.com
Large drones “have been hovering in formation over northern New Jersey, officials said last week, leading to ‘unnerved’ residents wondering what’s behind these bright, unidentified flying objects appearing almost every night in the sky,” NBC News reported.
In addition to the FBI, the Morris County Sheriff’s Department is also actively investigating the aerial phenomenon, “which has been an annoyance but not yet any kind of safety threat, authorities said,” according to the network.
The image provided by a witness claiming to be one of those drones was in reality a commercial airliner, as you can see below. This has been the case constantly in reporting across the mainstream media space.
Large drones have been hovering in formation over northern New Jersey, officials say, leading to "unnerved" residents wondering what's behind these bright, unidentified flying objects appearing almost every night in the sky. https://t.co/0mErYUt8Ib
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 3, 2024
Though the concern about drones flying over military installations and other sensitive locations is legitimate, nearly all of the videos and imagery TWZ has reviewed are of private and commercial aircraft.
There is also growing speculation that many of these objects are UFOs, or what the Pentagon now refers to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs).
However, a spokesperson for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Pentagon office that handles these matters, told us that it “received no reports of UAP in conjunction with recent drone flights or incursions in the New Jersey area.”
There are a number of reasons why sightings are being misidentified.
“Nearly every video I have seen has pointed to mass hysteria not a drone invasion of massive scale, with airliners, private jets, and helicopters being portrayed as mysterious objects,” TWZ editor-in-chief explained on Twitter. “These videos are peddled for engagement by a growing number of online accounts. This is very unfortunate, because there does seem to be something going on here, but zero critical thought, even on a most basic level of the ‘evidence’ only fuels rumors and fear. It also clogs the channels for relevant evidence to break through. This is true on a public consumption and governmental/investigative level. It also puts aircraft in danger.”
Mailbox/DMs etc full of people asking why we are not reporting on the drone stuff considering we broke all this over many years.
We are!
But we have not been doing a play by play as the story has totally gone off the rails with reality and major news stories have developed…
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) December 11, 2024
During Wednesday’s press briefing, we asked Singh to tell us how the Pentagon views the legitimacy of many of these drone claims.
“The initial assessments are that these are drones, and potentially could be small airplanes. It could be a number of things that people are seeing and reporting. That’s, you know, for the investigation to uncover, and so I can’t speak to that more in terms of a frenzy.”
“I think it’s completely right that people report these sightings and that there is an investigation into what they are seeing,” she added. “But I think what’s also important to remember is that at no time were our military institute installations, or are people ever under any threat, and if they were, of course, the base commanders have the ability to engage these drones if they do pose a threat.”
There are several impediments, however, to defending against drones. Given current rules and regulations, the U.S. military isn’t currently interested in fielding kinetic and directed energy capabilities, such as laser and high-power microwave weapons, surface-to-air interceptors, and gun systems, for defending domestic bases and other critical infrastructure from rapidly growing and evolving drone threats. Instead, the focus is on systems that provide drone detection, as well as electronic warfare and cyber warfare, and other ‘soft-kill’ options, at least for the time being. You can read more about in our deep dive here.
With so many agencies involved in investigating the drone incursions, the government’s message has been muddled at a best. That’s added to the confusion. When the drones first appeared over Picatinny, the military offered public comments. Then the FBI came in and provided no details. Elected officials began to fill the void, adding to the growing alarm to the point where Congress had to intervene. Now the Pentagon is involved.
As TWZ’s editor discussed in his X post earlier today, this has led to a major hysteria:
“The mainstream media has no clue what they are talking about on this issue, none, and most outlets largely don’t seem to care. Local officials are very poor sources in terms of quality info on this issue. This is not a dig on them at all, it’s just there is not an in-house knowledge base there that understands it, just facets of it, not anywhere near a whole picture. This is a very complex issue with many technological facets. You don’t just call in a ‘drone guy’ and get briefed. We have ran into this issue many times. The U.S. gov messaging on this has been so absurdly poor and frankly dangerous, there is a story there we are working on, but that isn’t all that surprising. This has been the way it has been for years, but at least the denials have finally evaporated…”
“But beware of the prevailing narrative and especially what you see portrayed on social media, this is now a hype train and everyone is jumping on, and many are doing so for the wrong reasons. I applaud those that are doing the opposite…”
Mailbox/DMs etc full of people asking why we are not reporting on the drone stuff considering we broke all this over many years.
We are!
But we have not been doing a play by play as the story has totally gone off the rails with reality and major news stories have developed…
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) December 11, 2024
The growing hysteria over this issue clouds the fact that real drones pose a significant national security threat.
While the Pentagon has repeatedly claimed that there is no indication of a foreign connection to the drone incursions, a Chinese national was arrested earlier this week for flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Yinpiao Zhou, 39, is charged with failure to register an aircraft not providing transportation and violation of national defense airspace, according to the Justice Department. Zhou was arrested on Dec. 10 at San Francisco International Airport before boarding a China-bound flight and is expected to make his initial appearance tomorrow in United States District Court in San Francisco.
On Nov. 30, “drone detection systems at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County detected a drone flying over the base,” the Justice Department release stated. “The drone systems detected that the drone flew for nearly one hour, traveled to an altitude of almost one mile above ground level, and originated from Ocean Park, a public area next to the base. Base security personnel went to the park, spoke to Zhou and another person accompanying him, and learned that Zhou had a drone concealed in his jacket – the same one that flew over the base.”
After obtaining a warrant to search his drone, agents found “several photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base taken from an aerial viewpoint. A search of Zhou’s cellphone showed Zhou conducted a Google search approximately one month earlier for the phrase “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” and messaged with another person about hacking his drone to allow it to fly higher than it could otherwise.”
Vandenberg is a key military installation, where ICBM and missile defense tests, as well as many other space launch activities occur, among other missions.
An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 1:13 A.M. PDT, Sept. 7 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. ICBM test launches demonstrate that the U.S. ICBM fleet is relevant, essential and key to leveraging dominance in an era of strategic competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Quijas) An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 1:13 A.M. PDT, Sept. 7 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Quijas
Zhou is the second Chinese national this year charged with flying drones over a military installation.
Fengyun Shi was convicted in July for taking drone footage of Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding and was sentenced to six months in prison back in July, WAVY-TV reported. He was flying the unmanned aircraft outside the 65th Street and Huntington Avenue Entrance of HII Newport News Shipbuilding when it got stuck in a tree.
The SD card showed footage captured of U.S. Navy vessels or vessels intended for use by the Navy, according to court documents.
07/24/2024 WAVY TV 10: A Chinese national student named Fengyun Shi pleads guilty to taking drone footage of US Navy ships from Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding. pic.twitter.com/inOoK8AT9L
— Lew (@LeeHamli) July 28, 2024
The reports of drones over New Jersey come as U.S. officials are still trying to learn who has been flying them over four U.S. Air Force Bases in the U.K., a story we first broke. They’ve been spotted over RAF Lakehheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell, all within close proximity, and RAF Fairford, about 130 miles to the west.
Those incursions began two days after the first Picatinny drone sightings. The last one over a U.S base in England was spotted on Nov. 26, the Pentagon’s top spokesman told reporters, including from The War Zone, on Tuesday.
A stock picture of a “No Drone Zone” sign and other warnings along the perimeter of RAF Lakenheath. Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images
These are just the latest in a long string of drone sightings over sensitive facilities and military capabilities.
TWZ has been on the leading edge of covering this topic for years and has broken multiple stories now about drone incursions over key U.S. bases and training ranges, as well as uncrewed aerial systems harassing American forces off the coasts of the United States and making worrisome overflights of important non-military sites. A spate of drone incursions over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in December 2023, which TWZ was the first report on, has now become a particular national cause celebre.
The interest in these incursions is growing every day and statements like the one about the Iranian mothership drive the story to new heights, regardless of the accuracy.
We will continue to cover these issues and provide the truth, in both fact and context, as best we can.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com