USAF confirms that multiple unauthorized drones entered it’s airspace the week of March 9

Officials at Barksdale Air Force Base confirmed Friday, March 20 that multiple unauthorized drones entered the base’s airspace the week of March 9.

Barksdale is located in Shreveport, LA and it’s host unit is the 2nd Bomb Wing (2 BW), the oldest bomb wing in the U.S. Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's (AFGSC) Eighth Air Force (8 AF).

Between March 9 and 15, security forces observed “multiple waves of 12–15 drones” operating over sensitive areas of the Louisiana installation, including the flight line, according to the document dated March 15. The drones displayed non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links, and resistance to jamming. Analysts assessed “with high confidence” that unauthorized drone flights over the base would continue.

The aircraft were not consumer-grade quadcopters. Analysts determined they appeared custom-built by someone with “advanced knowledge” of signal operations. The drones flew for roughly four hours per day and maneuvered carefully around restricted zones, suggesting the operators knew the base’s layout. Their entry and exit patterns were specifically designed to prevent triangulation of the control source.

This is particularly sobering as Barksdale is one of only two bases in America that host our long range strategic bombers which can carry nuclear arms. Security is paramount.

If this can happen at Barksdale, it can happen anywhere.

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AdmiralPrune · 41-45, M

What - is fighting back against the rules?

KunsanVeteran · M

@AdmiralPrune This incident illustrates exactly what tRUMP doesn’t understand about wars.

Whether Iran was behind it or not, the following points are clear:

1. This was much more than the cover story released to the public following these incidents. First, the sheer number of drones involved in multiple waves over a period of days. These were highly sophisticated drones; not amateurs flying their toys.

2. Choice of targets: Barksdale is a key pillar of our nuclear triad. B-52s are long range bombers which can carry nuclear weapons. Bases with nuclear weapons have the absolute highest level of security. When the first incident commenced, the Force Protection level (FPCON) was at Bravo—the next to the lowest level. At a nukes base? While we are at war?!?!. Barksdale is close to the geographic center of our country—which one would think would be rather “safe” unless someone in authority isn’t taking their job very seriously…

3. The tactics employed illustrate exactly how brazen and well thought out this incident was. The drones’ paths showed how familiar their operators were with the base. Where did they get that detailed information? Perhaps from Russian or Chinese satellites? At any rate, they now almost certainly have much more detailed reconnaissance—whoever “they” are won’t be striking any girls middle schools due to outdated Intel.. The intent here was not to be stealthy—someone wanted all Americans to know just how vulnerable they are.

4. This sends quite a few messages. Here are just a few examples: This was a serious warning. It exposed our vulnerabilities & the lack of attention to all of the minutiae that goes into military operations. If Barksdale is so open imagine what the rest of our country is…. Americans are amateurs at asymmetric warfare; the Iranians are anything but!