Drone sightings at Hill Air Force Base described in documents

Hill Air Force Base, Utah – Since 2022, Hill Air Force Base authorities have looked into eight reported incidents involving drone sightings or incursions on the base.

In a particular incident, a drone was observed in close proximity to the fuel pumps on the base, sparking worries about the capacity to effectively protect vital infrastructure from possible surveillance or assault.

Recent events have heightened worries regarding drone sightings over key military facilities in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

“Unmanned aerial systems have been observed near Hill AFB recently,” the base confirmed.
Officials at the base reported that the presence of unmanned systems near the facility was not affecting operations. The announcement further indicated that the base is implementing essential measures to safeguard its personnel, infrastructure, and assets.

The clarity surrounding the extent of those protections is still in question.

Hill Air Force Base hosts nearly 80 F-35A fighter planes, recognized as some of the most advanced combat fighters in the United States’ military capabilities. Pentagon leaders are acutely aware that a small drone, priced under $300, has the potential to inflict significant damage or even destroy an F-35, which carries a price tag of $80 to $100 million.

Defending against such attacks would pose significant challenges. Small drones have the potential to monitor essential infrastructure and identify personnel patterns, which could provide valuable insights to an adversary. Currently, defense officials in Washington are adopting a careful stance regarding drones.

“Occasionally, some aircraft fly close to or above our bases.” “That in and of itself is not unusual, and the vast majority pose no physical threat to our forces or impact our operations,” stated Maj. General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, during his daily briefing on Monday.

In April 2023, an incident labeled as a “intrusion incident” occurred when a drone was observed in proximity to the fuel pumps on the base. Witnesses observed the distinctive red and green lights commonly associated with consumer drones. A drone was observed departing the area, heading towards the lower housing section of the base, before leaving the installation for an unknown destination. A security patrol was sent out to locate the drone, but it remains missing.

In September 2023, a lawn care worker discovered a drone that had fallen on base property.

According to police documents, the drone is equipped with a small camera. The employee struggled to contact the appropriate authorities and retained the drone overnight until they were able to reach them the following day. Security teams arrived with explosives technicians, who assessed the situation and concluded that the aircraft did not pose any threat. The case has been handed over to Air Force investigators for additional scrutiny.

In a puzzling event that took place in January 2023, a civilian pilot approaching Salt Lake City claimed to have spotted a potential drone hovering over Hill Air Force Base. The pilot reported that the aircraft passed by his cockpit window at an altitude of 2,000 feet close to the base’s flightline. Security patrols were sent out but reported no findings.

Additional observations occur under comparable conditions, with small unmanned vehicles being seen above the base or in close proximity to its perimeter. Security forces are deployed, yet the craft continues its course before the teams can catch sight of them. Although base officials emphasize that the alleged drones do not pose a threat to the base or its personnel, these incidents underscore the ease with which consumer technology can infiltrate secured zones.

According to a report from the defense publication “The War Zone,” Langley Air Force Base in Virginia experienced a swarm of drones over several weeks earlier this year. Earlier this month, the airspace above Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio was shut down due to drone activity. Reports have emerged regarding drone activity at a significant air base in Great Britain and at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.

Both the Pentagon and lawmakers are expressing significant concern over the incidents, leading to the inclusion of multiple drone-related provisions in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which allocates funding for the military.

An order mandates installation commanders to establish standard operating procedures aimed at countering unmanned aircraft systems at their respective installations. This has immediate consequences for Hill Air Force Base.

Additionally, the NDAA mandates that the Secretary of Defense create a task force focused on countering unmanned aerial systems. The group must “consolidate and update all Department of Defense memoranda and directives concerning the countering of unmanned systems.” This initiative seeks to enhance the efficiency of protocols for addressing drone threats across all U.S. military installations.

The House of Representatives has approved the NDAA, and it is expected to receive Senate approval before reaching President Biden for his signature. Meanwhile, officials in Washington are under scrutiny regarding the emerging risks associated with small, inexpensive, remotely piloted aircraft, while they maintain a cautious approach in their statements.

“To clarify, we will persist in our efforts to thoroughly investigate reports of troubling activity.” Ryder informed reporters, “Considering the number of drones operating legally in our skies daily, we must exercise caution in presuming malice or ill intent.”