In a recent 60 Minutes interview, retired General Glen VanHerck, former NORAD and U.S. Northern Command chief, issued a stark warning:
“They could be doing anything, from surveilling critical infrastructure … and then we’re not able to do anything about it.”
He was referring to repeated drone incursions over military sites, with one of the most alarming cases occurring in December 2023, when drones flew over Langley Air Force Base for 17 consecutive nights. Despite concerns from security experts, some officials dismissed the incidents as hobbyist activity. VanHerck, however, was not convinced.
This isn’t an isolated event. In 2019, Navy warships off the coast of California were shadowed by drones for weeks. More recently, drones have been spotted over nuclear plants, weapons testing sites, and airbases storing advanced fighter jets.
The reality is clear: U.S. military sites are being watched.
Why Are Drones Targeting Military Bases?
While the true intent behind these drone incursions remains unknown, experts point to a number of possible motivations:
- Surveillance & Intelligence Gathering – Drones can record aircraft movements, personnel routines, and security blind spots—intelligence that could be valuable to adversaries.
- Electronic Warfare & Cyber Threats – Some drones are capable of intercepting radio signals or jamming communications, disrupting military operations.
- Weaponized Drone Attacks – As seen in Ukraine and Russia, drones have been used to destroy aircraft and infrastructure on the ground with minimal risk to the attacker.
- Testing U.S. Responses – Persistent drone incursions could be probing how quickly and effectively bases react, identifying weaknesses for future exploitation.
Yet, as VanHerck put it, current security measures are simply not equipped for this type of threat.
The Challenge: Outdated Systems and Red Tape
One of the biggest obstacles to stopping these incursions is that traditional air defense systems were never designed for drones. NORAD’s radar systems, for example, were built for Cold War-era threats—high-flying missiles, bombers, and large aircraft—not small, low-flying drones that can slip through undetected.
“They can come and go from any direction,” VanHerck admitted. “The FBI is looking at potential options. But they don’t have an answer right now.”
Even when drones are detected, stopping them isn’t straightforward. Unlike war zones, where military forces can engage threats freely, U.S. laws prevent easy drone takedowns on American soil.
“Firing missiles in our homeland is not taken lightly,” VanHerck emphasized.
To make matters worse, the response to these incursions is often tangled in bureaucracy. At Langley Air Force Base, multiple agencies—the FBI, FAA, and Coast Guard—had overlapping jurisdiction, leading to confusion about who was responsible for handling the threat.
“There’s a perception that this is fortress America … It’s time we move beyond that assumption.”
How Military Bases Can Take Back Control of Their Airspace
If military leaders recognize the drone threat but lack the tools to counter it, the question becomes: How can we take back control of our airspace before these incursions escalate?
That’s where advanced drone detection technology comes into play.
AirSight: Tracking Drones—and Their Operators—at the Source
Unlike traditional defense systems, AirSight specializes in drone detection and pilot localization, giving military bases a way to not just detect drones but stop the threat at its origin.
✅ Multi-Frequency Detection – Spy drones often shift frequencies to evade tracking, but AirSight’s frequency-agnostic detection ensures drones can’t hide, no matter what signal they use.
✅ Tracking the Operator, Not Just the Drone – The real threat isn’t just the drone—it’s who’s behind it. AirSight’s pilot localization capabilities help security teams track where the drone is coming from and who is controlling it, enabling rapid response and apprehension.
✅ Real-Time Alerts & Response Integration – Military personnel don’t have time to sift through raw data. AirSight’s automated alerts ensure that security teams receive immediate, actionable intelligence to deploy countermeasures effectively.
The Clock Is Ticking—Military Bases Must Act Now
General VanHerck’s warning makes one thing clear: U.S. military bases are being monitored, and we currently lack the ability to stop it. The question isn’t whether drones are spying—it’s how soon military leaders will take action to secure their airspace.
