US Military Confirms Swarm of Drones Invaded Airspace Around Base in Virginia Last Year

Military officials were unable to determine who was controlling a swarm of drones that flew over Joint Base Langley–Eustis for several days in December 2023.
US Military Confirms Swarm of Drones Invaded Airspace Around Base in Virginia Last Year
Two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors fly over Joint Base Langley-Eustis, on June 14, 2018. Tech. Sgt. Natasha Stannard/U.S. Air Force
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A mysterious swarm of drones flew in restricted airspace around a U.S. military base in Virginia over several nights in December 2023, U.S. military officials confirmed this week.

In an emailed statement on Oct. 15, U.S. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek confirmed multiple unmanned aerial systems (UAS)—colloquially known as “drones”—began operating in the airspace around Joint Base Langley–Eustis on Dec. 6, 2023. The military base experienced multiple additional drone “incursions” throughout December 2023, according to the statement.