Federal officials face a looming threat of foreign nationals utilizing drones to surveil United States military bases after two recent arrests and a string of mysterious incursions suggest the country’s airspace is ill-equipped to handle the rapidly evolving technology. 

In late 2024, the Department of Justice announced charges against Yinpiao Zhou, 39, for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and taking photos of the facility. The Chinese-American citizen was detained as he attempted to board a China-bound flight and was charged with violation of national defense airspace and failure to register an aircraft. 

“Anyone operating a drone over a restricted space, like a military base, would be subject to prosecution,” Ken Gray, a former FBI agent and military analyst, told Fox News Digital. “A foreign national operating [a drone] raises a concern about that person being involved in some type of espionage or intelligence gathering.” 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency “has been testing drone detection and counter-drone technology at airports over the last few years to determine how well different technologies work to mitigate potential aviation safety risks posed by drones.” 

Gray wants government officials to provide transparency to American citizens while expanding their response to mysterious sightings. While the federal government works on getting its technology up to date, officials have a range of options to help deal with the problem.

“One of the best things [officials] can use against a drone is another drone,” Gray told Fox News Digital. “There are some small, very fast drones that can be operated that could be used to try to intercept and to disrupt the drone by just slamming into it. Shotguns are a last-ditch-effort type of old technology.” 

As consumer drones flood the markets, an increase in drone incursions can be expected, and officials are scrambling to get out ahead of the growing threat.

“We’re going to just see a proliferation of drones everywhere,” Gray said. “That includes the possibility of drones being used for nefarious purposes.” 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon.

Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.