Washington DC [US]: The Pentagon has dismissed concerns of national security risks stemming from a recent series of drone sightings in New Jersey and other parts of the East Coast, emphasizing that there is no threat to public safety.
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder, in a press briefing on Tuesday, clarified that the drones observed were not assets of the US Department of Defense (DOD).
“The drones in New Jersey up and down…they are not DOD assets,” Ryder stated.
The sightings, which have sparked public and media attention, involved what Ryder described as “commercial drones” or drones being used recreationally or by hobbyists. He noted that, on any given day, approximately 8,500 drones are operational in the US, with the majority being used for lawful purposes such as architecture, engineering, farming, or law enforcement.
“There’s over a million drones registered in the United States. And on any given day, approximately 8,500 drones are in flight. The vast majority of these are likely recreational, hobbyist, or commercial drones. While it’s possible for drones to be involved in malign activities, that is not the case here,” Ryder explained.
He also addressed concerns about drones flying near military installations, stating that such incidents are not unusual given the high volume of drone activity nationwide. Ryder assured that no drone identified in the New Jersey sightings posed a national security or public safety risk.
“We’ll continue to take appropriate action if and when it’s deemed that any of these drones near US military installations pose a threat. However, none of these reported sightings have been assessed as anomalous or a risk to national security or public safety in civilian airspace,” he added.
Ryder further emphasized that commercial drone operations are legal as long as they do not enter restricted airspace.
“As long as you’re flying appropriately and not in restricted airspace, there’s nothing illegal about flying that drone,” he said, explaining that the reported sightings likely involve a mix of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, and occasionally manned aircraft.
The Pentagon’s response seeks to alleviate growing concerns while affirming its commitment to monitor and address potential threats posed by unauthorized drone activity.