Be Bop Deluxe - Life In The Air-Age (1977)
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Mystery New Jersey Drones 'Go Dark' When Spotted: Governor
www.newsweek.com

... New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the recent drones which have been sighted in the state are "very sophisticated," saying, "the minute you get your eyes on them, they go dark."

In a Monday press conference, Murphy acknowledged public frustration about the recent surge of mysterious drone sightings but emphasized that authorities have found no evidence of a threat to public safety.

"The most important point to say is we don't see any concern for public safety," he said, adding that local, state, and federal authorities, including the FBI and Homeland Security, are working together to uncover the drones' origins.

Murphy disclosed that there were 49 reported sightings on Sunday, predominantly in Hunterdon County, though he noted some reports might overlap. "These are apparently very, as I understand it, very sophisticated. The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark," he said.

"We're obviously most concerned about sensitive targets and sensitive critical infrastructure," he said. "See, we've got military assets. We've got utility assets. We've got the president-elect, one of his homes here. This is something we're taking deadly seriously." ...

Be Bop Deluxe - Modern Music Full Suite (1976) (12 minutes)
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NJ Military Base Had 11 'Confirmed' Mystery Drone Sightings, Army Says
www.military.com

... Picatinny Arsenal, the Army facility in Morris County, has had 11 confirmed sightings of unauthorized drones flying over in its airspace in recent weeks, military officials said.

The first confirmed sighting at Picatinny witnessed by a police or security officer at the arsenal was Nov. 13, five days earlier than previously reported, Army officials said Monday. Seven other sightings remained unconfirmed, including one reported Friday at the military research and manufacturing facility in Jefferson and Rockaway Township.

"While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities," said Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander.

It is illegal to fly unauthorized drones over military bases. The FAA added additional drone flight restrictions over Picatinny and Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County last week.

The sightings at the Army facility were among the earliest reported in a flood of drone sightings in recent weeks around the state. Residents have reported multiple drones flying over the same areas of New Jersey each night along with unusually large drones, the kind not usually used by hobbyists, over some areas. ...

Picatinny Arsenal released a list Monday of the dates of 18 sightings, including the 11 confirmed incidents. "Confirmed" means a police officer or security guard "visibly witnessed a drone" while or after receiving the report, military officials said.

Picatinny Arsenal's list also includes seven "unconfirmed" reports of drones, which means a police officer received a call but was "unable to verify the object upon arriving on the scene," Army officials said. Two of the unconfirmed reports were listed as "aircraft."

Bonham said Picatinny Arsenal officials immediately began investigating the initial reports, with several local, state, and federal partners. ...

As big as cars, in formation: Mysterious drones over New Jersey leave us puzzled
www.heise.de

... In the US state of New Jersey, drones that appear at night and are apparently significantly larger than the models that are commercially available have been causing puzzlement for weeks. This is reported by the local news portal NJ.com, among others. The authorities apparently do not know what the devices are or who they are from, but Governor Phil Murphy has assured the public that there is currently no danger. The FBI and local police authorities are still investigating, and the Federal Police have asked the public for information that could help clarify the background.
Background completely unclear

According to NJ.com, the drones have been appearing in New Jersey, the US state located between New York City and Philadelphia, for more than two weeks. According to reports from eyewitnesses, the drones are appearing in large numbers and seem to be traveling in formation. At least some of them are said to have been unusually large, the size of a car or a small airplane. According to Gizmodo, a police spokesperson only pointed out on Friday that the unknown flying objects had survived fairly strong wind speeds on Friday, at which the usual, small drones would not have been able to take off.

In one case in late November, the mysterious flying objects prevented the victim of a traffic accident from being flown to the hospital by helicopter, NJ.com reported. Even then, it was not determined what kind of devices were involved. According to initial reports, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned all drone flights over a golf course belonging to the next US President Donald Trump and a military facility. According to the reports, there are some adventurous explanations in the US state, but a professor from the New Jersey Institute of Technology assumes that the devices belong to a commercial provider or the military.

But then the question remains as to why the authorities seem so clueless. ...

I have two, conflicting, views at this point. And, imo, it could go either way...

1) there is a club of drone enthusiast who are simply having fun.

2) this is a test run, a probe o see how the United States responds to such an, and I do not use this term lightly, invasion from within.

At this point, in my view, it can go either way.

New Jersey drones causing growing sense of uncertainty and urgency' (December 12, 2024)
www.newsnationnow.com

... State and local lawmakers are calling on federal officials to be more transparent about recent sightings of drones flying over New Jersey.

On Wednesday, a group of New Jersey lawmakers met with state police and the Department of Homeland Security about the matter, but some were left frustrated about the lack of answers they received.

Republican New Jersey state Rep. Brian Bergen told NewsNation that meeting was "a whole lot of nothing."

"All they did was tell us they don't know anything that's going on," he said. ...

The Pentagon says it currently does not appear that a foreign enemy is behind them.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew claimed the drones are being launched by an Iranian mothership, but Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said during a Wednesday afternoon briefing there is "not any truth to that." ...

In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Chris Wray and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Booker said he recognizes the need to maintain operational security amid the ongoing probes, but there is a "growing sense of uncertainty and urgency" across the state from constituents and officials. ...