A soldier uses a Drone Defender counter-small unmanned aerial system device during a training exercise.
Top Pentagon officials told Congress on Tuesday that the U.S. military is not adequately prepared to protect its bases—at home or overseas—from the growing threat of drone attacks.
The admission came during a House Oversight Committee hearing focused on the rising risks posed by unmanned aerial systems. Lawmakers raised concerns about the sharp increase in unauthorized drone activity near military sites, particularly along the East Coast.
According to the Department of Defense, more than 350 drone incidents have been reported over the past year at more than 100 U.S. military installations.
Members of both parties agreed that the military’s current strategy to counter drones is not keeping pace with the threat.
In a stark warning, Navy Rear Adm. Paul Spedero Jr., deputy director for operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the committee that drones have fundamentally changed how militaries conduct surveillance and attacks.
“The homeland is no longer a sanctuary,” Spedero said. “If our adversaries decide to use drones for spying or attacks, we are not adequately prepared to defend the homeland, and only marginally capable of defending our military bases.”
While the U.S. maintains strong capabilities to carry out drone strikes abroad, officials said its systems for detecting and defending against incoming drones—especially small, commercial-style models—remain limited. Defense officials also warned that adversaries, including drug cartels, are increasingly using drones for surveillance and other operations.
