Unidentified aerial objects with advanced technological capabilities continue to operate unchallenged over key U.S. military sites and critical infrastructure, leaving defense officials and national security experts without answers. Despite the Pentagon’s sophisticated surveillance and detection tools, the nature, purpose, and origin of these craft remain a mystery, sparking fears of espionage or other potential threats.
In a recent 60 Minutes interview, two retired four-star Air Force generals, along with the commander responsible for North American airspace defense, acknowledged that recent unauthorized drone activity over secure military installations remains unexplained. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, admitted that even with access to high-level classified briefings, officials are “still mystified” by the frequent intrusions into U.S. airspace, reported on by The Hill.
Unlike commercially available drones, these unidentified objects appear resistant to electronic countermeasures, hinting at the use of advanced technology. Some of these craft have been observed hovering above military bases with bright flashing lights—an unusual characteristic for foreign surveillance operations, which typically rely on stealth tactics.
The frequency and persistence of these incidents are especially troubling.
In 2023, a series of encounters at a major Air Force base lasted for 17 consecutive nights, during which numerous illuminated objects were spotted flying overhead, evading counter-drone measures. Similar occurrences were reported at U.S. military bases in the United Kingdom, where unidentified craft exhibited exceptional maneuverability.
Military personnel have reported that these objects display movement patterns that defy current aviation technology. In 2019, for example, Navy warships off the coast of southern California encountered unknown flying objects that emitted bright lights and moved erratically over 100 miles offshore.
The Hill reports on one of the most notable cases involved the USS Omaha, where infrared footage captured a spherical object moving steadily against strong winds before it descended into the ocean in what appeared to be a controlled manner. Radar systems detected multiple unidentified objects in the area that evening, and sailors visually confirmed their presence. A similar event occurred the following night when unknown craft surrounded the USS Paul Hamilton, with one object seen submerging into the water.
Law enforcement agencies in Ohio, Indiana, and Wyoming have reported similar occurrences in recent months. In January, federal officials informed Mercer County, Ohio, Sheriff Doug Timmerman about coordinated “swarming” activity in his jurisdiction. Timmerman himself saw the objects, describing them as being comparable in size to “picnic tables or hot tubs,” traveling at speeds of up to 80 mph and flying as low as 100 feet.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) voiced his concern, urging Congress to take action. Meanwhile, multiple sheriffs in Wyoming have expressed frustration over their inability to track or deter these unidentified aerial incursions. In one unusual case in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, deputies were dispatched to investigate objects flying over a power station—only to later realize that the mysterious craft had followed them nearly 30 miles back to their headquarters.
Additional sightings in Sublette County, Wyoming, describe a large “mothership” hovering in place while smaller drones maneuvered in spoke-like formations around it. This pattern bears a striking resemblance to reports from Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas between late 2019 and early 2020, when law enforcement officers observed dozens of smaller craft swarming a central stationary object.
In one incident, a Kansas Highway Patrol officer witnessed a silent, large aerial object hovering motionlessly as 10 to 15 smaller drones performed rapid maneuvers around it. One of these smaller craft flew just 200 feet overhead, yet emitted no discernible sound, despite calm weather conditions.
Some of the most alarming reports involve incursions over nuclear missile sites and power plants, prompting increased attention from the U.S. Air Force. Declassified military emails from past years reveal incidents in which sheriff’s deputies tracked drone swarms, including one case where a six-foot-wide “mothership” was accompanied by up to 30 smaller high-speed craft.
During a January roundtable discussion led by President Donald Trump, governors from Virginia, Wyoming, and Louisiana expressed serious concerns over these ongoing incursions, particularly those occurring near nuclear power infrastructure.
