A drone sighting that briefly raised alarms at one of many United States Air Drive’s largest and most strategic airfields earlier this month was extra in depth, and probably extra harmful, than first reported, based on a confidential inner briefing doc reviewed by ABC Information.
Barksdale Air Drive Base in Louisiana stated it was underneath a shelter-in-place order March 9 after “a report of an unmanned aerial system working over the set up.”
The sighting raised issues as a result of Barksdale homes long-range B-52 bombers and performs a vital function in command and management of the Air Drive nuclear protection capabilities.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted later that day however the unauthorized drone flights continued for almost every week.
“Barksdale Air Drive Base detected a number of unauthorized drones working in our airspace through the week of March ninth,” Capt. Hunter Rininger of the 2nd Bomb Wing stated in a press release offered to ABC Information. The extra drone incursions had not been beforehand reported.
Based on the confidential briefing doc dated March 15, the drones got here in waves and entered and exited the bottom in a manner which will recommend makes an attempt to “keep away from the operator(s) being situated.” Lights on the drones advised the operators “could also be testing safety responses” on the base.
“Between March 9-15, 2026, BAFB Safety Forces noticed a number of waves of 12-15 drones working over delicate areas of the set up, together with the flight line, with plane displaying non-commercial sign traits, long-range management hyperlinks and resistance to jamming,” the doc stated. “After reaching a number of factors throughout the set up, the drones dispersed throughout delicate places on the bottom.”
The flights lasted round 4 hours every day and the drones used assorted routes of ingress and deliberate maneuvering inside restricted airspace.
FAIRFORD, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: A cargo airplane comes into land with two US Air Drive B-1 bombers within the foreground at RAF Fairford on March 11, 2026 in Fairford, England. Since UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the US to make use of British bases to launch defensive strikes towards Iranian missile websites, a wide range of US army plane together with B52 bombers, and B-1 bombers, have arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Photographs
“Definitely, it appeared to be extra than simply your common drone fanatic who simply pushed it too far,” stated ABC Information contributor Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of protection. “It regarded like this was deliberate and intentional to see simply how they might react.”
The briefing features a dedication that the drones had been completely different than what the everyday shopper may buy off the shelf. They seemed to be customized constructed and required “superior data” of sign operations.
The analysts stated “with excessive confidence” they anticipated unauthorized drones to proceed to function in and round Barksdale Air Drive Base within the rapid future.
“The drone incursions at BAFB pose a big menace to public security and nationwide safety since they require the flight line to be shut down whereas additionally placing manned aircrafts already inflight within the space in danger,” the doc stated.
The FAA referred ABC Information to the army for remark. The Louisiana State Police, which can be aiding the investigation, declined to remark.
“Flying a drone over a army set up is just not solely a security challenge, it’s a prison offense underneath federal legislation. We’re working intently with federal and native legislation enforcement companies to research these incursions. The safety of our set up and the security of our individuals are prime priorities, and we’ll proceed to vigilantly monitor our airspace,” Capt. Rininger’s assertion stated.
