Overview
- Barksdale officials confirmed multiple unauthorized drones in restricted airspace during the week of March 9 after a March 9 shelter‑in‑place that was lifted the same day.
- From March 9–15, security forces documented multiple waves of roughly 12–15 drones flying over sensitive areas, including the flight line, with flights lasting around four hours daily.
- The aircraft showed non‑commercial signal traits, long‑range control links, and resistance to jamming, according to the confidential briefing reviewed by ABC News.
- Analysts assessed the systems as custom‑built requiring advanced signal expertise, with drone lighting and flight patterns indicating tests of security responses and efforts to mask operator locations.
- The briefing warned of significant safety and national‑security risks given B‑52 and nuclear command roles at the base, noted an ongoing military‑led probe with state police support, and forecast near‑term activity to continue.