Lt. Ryan Graves, a former F-18 U.S. Navy fighter pilot, said he denied involvement of private contractors in drone sightings reported around New Jersey in recent days.
“Based on my analysis of the situation and statements from the Department of Defense and the Legislature, I cannot believe that it is our government that is acting in such turmoil. God help us if it is.” Graves told Fox News anchor Martha McCallum on Thursday. “story”.
“It’s the same for commercial contractors,” he continued. “Especially when you're operating something like sensitive equipment close to the ground, there's zero profit and all the risk.”
Graves said his analysis led him to conclude that the mystery was “some foreign enemy or something.”
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“We heard directly from the Department of Defense that there are no so-called 'mother ships' launching these items off the coast of Virginia and New Jersey,” Graves said.
“We have some of the most sophisticated radar systems on the eastern seaboard. We need to know exactly where these objects are, where they're going, and where they might sink if they exist.” So if any of these objects don't have the ability to counter those technologies, they're just lying about what's going on.”
A map showing drone sightings around New Jersey.
Over the past week, New Jersey leaders of both parties have been addressing public concerns over drone sightings and frustration over a lack of clear answers.
On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy described drones as “very sophisticated” and expressed frustration at the lack of clarity surrounding their origins.
Congressman Chris Smith (RN.J.) shared on “The Story” that he spent Monday night at the beach and spoke with the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, who was the commander of the Coast Guard the night before. detailed the incident in which the 47-foot vessel collided with the More than a dozen drones approached.
Sen. Cory Booker (D.N.J.) will send a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker by Wednesday to inform local and county officials regarding drone activity. urged and requested that an explanation be provided. Share all available information with the public.
said Congressman Jeff Van Drew (RN.J.).Faulkner's focusA “highly qualified” and “reliable” source on Wednesday suspected the drones seen over the Garden State may be connected to an Iranian “mother ship” located off the East Coast. However, this claim was later denied by the Department of Defense.
State Sen. John Bramnick (RN.J.) asked the Department of Defense to come to the state Wednesday afternoon to investigate mysterious drone activity.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that he had received a confidential briefing about drone sightings in the Garden State.
Graves told McCallum that the government and the Department of Defense will use the “full force” of the government to characterize, identify and characterize these objects and, if necessary, to bring them down for further investigation. He said he was asking them to choose a target.
“The various branches of government don't seem to be communicating very well on this issue,” Graves said. “And for me, it leads me to believe that there is real uncertainty about what's going on here. It's hard to believe that the Biden administration can continue its policy of cognitive dissonance on this issue.” Hundreds of people are watching these events.” ”
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Graves added that reported drone sightings “are not just limited to people on the ground.”
“My nonprofit, Americans for Safe Aerospace, has been receiving reports from commercial pilots, military pilots, and veterans for more than a year, showing how consistent this problem is and how problematic it is at the altitudes they fly. “It shows us that,” Graves said. “We need to respond better together and really listen to the people who are seeing things on the ground and in the air.”
Fox News Digital's Taylor Penley and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
