1 NJ Military Base Says 'No Drone Incursion,' Not So For 2 Others

JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ — While drone sightings have been widespread across New Jersey over the last month or more, sparking concerns and calls from members of Congress to shoot them down, one place they have not been seen is over Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, according to base officials.

"No incursions to the installation have been identified," a Joint Base spokesperson said Thursday in an email to Patch regarding sightings that have happened all over the state, including Ocean County. "The base remains prepared to respond to any potential risks, leveraging robust security measures to protect our service members and their families."

“Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is aware of the recent reports of drone sightings across New Jersey and continues to closely coordinate with federal and state agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and operations," the spokesperson said.

The 42,000-acre base that straddles Ocean and Burlington counties is home to U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy operations, and is not far from Island Beach State Park, where a New Jersey State Park Police officer reported seeing 50 drones flying onshore from the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 7.

The lack of incursions at the Joint Base is in contrast to issues at Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in Morris County, and at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County.

There have been two reports of drones over Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ.com reported, quoting Navy officials.

"While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm at least two instances of an unidentified drone entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle," spokesman William Addison told NJ.com. “The base remains prepared to respond to any potential risks, leveraging robust security measures and advanced detection capabilities.”

At Picatinny Arsenal there have been 11 confirmed drone sightings since mid-November, in spite of drone flight restrictions issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Officials have been investigating the flights over Picatinny since reports began, said Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, the garrison commander at Picatinny Arsenal, and there is "increased outreach/coordination with several local, state, and federal partner organizations to obtain more information."

New Jersey State Police have received reports of up to 180 sightings per night, officials said Wednesday following a meeting of mayors from across New Jersey with state Homeland Security officials, the state police and representatives of Gov. Phil Murphy's office.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, whose 4th District includes Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Tuesday called on the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Lloyd Austin, to authorize action against the drones because of growing safety and security concerns after Smith learned of an incident where a dozen or more drones followed a U.S. Coast Guard lifeboat on Dec. 7. The Coast Guard has not responded to a request for additional information on the incident that happened off Barnegat Light.

Smith told Austin he is very concerned about the proximity of unidentified drone flights over the last several weeks to sensitive sites and critical infrastructure across New Jersey, including Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Smith said he spoke with officials at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and was told the defense department has "the capability to ascertain who they are and take them down," but that the defense department has not been given the authority to shoot one down.

Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said the drone unit in his office has been out nightly trying to gather information and learn where the drones are coming from. Doing so has been complicated by the fact that they have not been able to see them on radar.

Authorities were set to launch a 400-pound camera equipped with a heat sensor and radar starting Wednesday evening to try to identify the drones, Kinnelon Mayor James Freda said following Wednesday's mayors meeting with state officials.

The state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness is asking people to report suspicious drone activity to them, according to an information sheet given out at Wednesday's meeting. This includes flights near sensitive locations and critical infrastructure, such as military bases, reservoirs, transit hubs, and police stations.

Other indicators of suspicious drone activity includes repeated unauthorized flights, suspected reconnaissance (such as repeated flyovers or prolonged hovering at low altitudes), or flights near sensitive areas, the NJOHSP said.

And, suspicious devices may have visible modifications or irregularities, according to the NJOHSP — such as loose wires, lights that have been taped over or removed, extra tape used to conceal or attach items, and lack of a registration number.

Residents may report suspicious drone activity to local law enforcement, or NJOHSP’s Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.

Note: This article has been updated with information regarding sightings at Naval Weapons Station Earle.