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Earlier this month, Barksdale Air Force Base, home to B-52 bombers that can carry nuclear weapons, encountered “multiple unauthorized drones” near its premises, an official from the base has confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“During the week of March 9th, Barksdale Air Force Base identified several unauthorized drones operating within our airspace,” stated a spokesperson from Barksdale AFB to Fox News Digital on Friday.
The spokesperson emphasized, “Flying a drone over a military installation isn’t just a safety concern; it’s a violation of federal law.”
In response to these unauthorized drone activities, base authorities are collaborating closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the incidents, as per the spokesperson’s remarks.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges military installations face in securing their airspace against unauthorized drone activities.
“The security of our installation and the safety of our people are top priorities, and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace,” the official added.
Barksdale is east of Shreveport in Louisiana and encompasses 22,000 acres with a population of around 15,000.Â
The drone detections come amid heightened security at Air Force bases in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues.
A shelter-in-place order was issued on March 9 at the base that was lifted shortly after, but the drone sights continued through the week.
US Air Force B-52H long range strategic bombers sit on the tarmac at Barksdale Air Force Base in 2007. (Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)
Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told ABC News it didn’t look like an average drone enthusiast.
Bombs wait to be loaded on to a B-52H long range bomber at Barksdale Air Force Base in 2007. (Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)
“It looked like this was deliberate and intentional to see just how they would react,” he said. “Seeing this probe on a base in the United States is very troubling.”
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