A mysterious drone spotted in the night sky over New Jersey for several weeks has garnered national attention and sparked widespread theories about the craft's origin and purpose.
In the shocking lack of a federal explanation for the phenomenon, local politicians, police, and drone analysts are all coming up with their own theories.
copycat
The New Jersey Chiefs, a coalition of police chiefs from around the state, met earlier this week to discuss ongoing issues that are increasing concerns among residents.
One chief told the Post that a theory is supported by many in the coalition government.
“What we think is that it started as some sort of Picatinny Arsenal surveillance exercise or operation, but once it exploded online it became a copycat situation,” the anonymous New Jersey chief said. He theorized about a flight spotted over a military base.
“Picatinny leads the research, development, acquisition and lifecycle management of advanced conventional weapons systems and munitions,” the base's website says. “No government or industry can match our capabilities.”
The website states that each base uses “unique laboratories and special facilities to evaluate prototype designs” and specializes in “IED defeat technology,” “precision-guided munitions,” and “fire control systems.” are listed.
Picatinny itself has confirmed sightings of at least 11 drones flying in its airspace, but claims the aircraft are not theirs.
The chief wondered what steps he would take if his theory about the drones turned out to be true.
“So what do we do now? What do we do chasing 14-year-olds with drones? What do we charge them for? I'm sure there was some basis for it in the beginning, but… Now,” the chief said. “We can't believe it. It's like when you got a bomb threat, but now everyone is reporting it.”
Other police officers have given more outlandish explanations.
“Some people legitimately think they're aliens,” one New Jersey police chief told the Post.
Local drone experts Mike Innella and Haley Connelly drone shot of north jersey I agree that counterfeit products have become part of the phenomenon.
They point out that New Jersey airspace is busy and that they themselves are aware of some false alarms. They included footage of what they believed to be a drone in Bedminster and what they confirmed was a state police helicopter flying at very low altitude.
army
Local drone experts say the anomalous projectile exhibits surprising characteristics that are beyond the capabilities of commercially available products, which narrows estimates to the likely source.
Mike Innella and Haley Connelly of North Jersey Drone Shot have been flying in the area for about 12 years and are familiar with both the drone market and the region's flight traffic patterns.
They say the drone's unusual long-term battery power, resistance to weather elements, and finely controlled movements indicate it cannot be sold on the commercial market.
They say the drone, which is about the size of a car and is typically used as agricultural equipment, cannot achieve the 400-foot altitude the New Jersey aviator can achieve in seven hours.
“It must be the military or some government agency,” Connelly opined.
“We think it has to be a military thing,” Innella enthusiastically agreed.
A lack of communication between the federal government and local governments is a major problem in their estimates.
“That's the problem: local activity is being hampered and there's no communication with local government,” Connelly said, adding: “There's no answer, it's mass hysteria.” what else? “
Iran
Earlier Wednesday, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) said sources had told him the drones came from a “mother ship” launched by Iran.
“I'll tell you the truth: Iran launched a mothership with these drones on board,” Van Drew said. “This is off the east coast of the United States. They launched a drone.”
“These drones should be shot down,” he added.
However, the Pentagon quickly poured cold water on these claims.
“There are no Iranian vessels off the coast of the United States, and there are no so-called motherships launching drones toward the United States,” Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon deputy spokeswoman, told reporters Wednesday.
The Pentagon has not offered an official explanation or alternative theory about the drone's origins, and White House National Security and Public Affairs Advisor John Kirby told reporters Thursday that despite numerous sightings, , said there may not be any drones in the skies over New Jersey at all.
“We have not been able to corroborate the reported sightings, nor have state or local law enforcement officials been able to corroborate them,” Kirby said.
China
The New Jersey phenomenon comes amid several reports of drones at U.S. military bases around the world, some linked to China.
Chinese national Yinpiao Chou, 39, was arrested at San Francisco International Airport on Monday for flying a drone over Vannenberg Space Force Base in California.
Chou is accused of operating a drone from a nearby public park to spy on the Space Force base. According to Military.com.
He is charged with failing to register an aircraft that does not provide transportation and violating national airspace, which could carry a sentence of up to four years in federal prison.
Just last month, several unidentified drones were spotted over three US air force bases in the UK. According to CNN.
U.S. authorities are still investigating the drone's origins, but told CNN it does not appear to be an aircraft operated by a hobbyist.
Last year, dozens of drones were seen flying over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
The facility represented the highest concentration of national security facilities in the United States and was a gathering point for a fleet of 20-foot-long drones flying at 160 miles per hour at 3,000 to 4,000 feet in the air. According to the Wall Street Journal.
Military officials said the drones were nearly impossible to track and were eventually captured after getting stuck in a tree in Newport News, Virginia. According to The Verge.
Feng Yunshi, a Chinese national, was arrested and charged after pleading guilty to charges under the Espionage Act for filming a secret U.S. Navy ship using a drone.
