Unauthorized Drones Detected Near Barksdale Air Force Base

Barksdale Air Force Base, which is home to nuclear-capable B-52 bombers, recently reported detecting “multiple unauthorized drones” in its airspace earlier this month. This was confirmed by base officials.

A spokesperson stated, “Barksdale Air Force Base detected multiple unauthorized drones flying within our nation’s airspace during the week of March 9.” They emphasized that operating a drone over military installations poses significant safety concerns and is also considered a criminal offense under federal law.

Authorities at the base are currently collaborating with federal and local law enforcement to investigate these drone sightings.

The base official remarked, “The safety of the facility and the safety of the public is our top priority, and we will continue to closely monitor our airspace.”

Barksdale, located east of Shreveport, Louisiana, spans 22,000 acres and houses around 15,000 personnel. The increase in drone activity comes at a time when security measures have been upgraded across U.S. air bases, particularly amid ongoing tensions related to the situation in Iran.

A shelter-in-place order had been issued at the base on March 9, which was quickly lifted. However, sightings of drones persisted for a week following that incident.

Interestingly, Mick Mulroy, a former assistant defense secretary for the Middle East, expressed concerns, stating that he doesn’t think the current drone activity is consistent with typical drone enthusiasts. He observed, “This appeared to be done on purpose to see how they would react. It’s very alarming to see this spacecraft on a U.S. base.”