The Ministry of Defense doubled. Points out that drones are not US military assets.

The Department of Defense (DoD) doubled the number on Tuesday. It noted an increase in the number of possible drones being reported in places like New Jersey and New York. Not U.S. military property He added that most unmanned aircraft are likely to be used by hobbyists to Recreational purposes

Defense Department spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder answered numerous questions from reporters about drones during a news conference on Tuesday. But he remains clear that the drones are not Defense Ministry property. and is not part of any experimental project

He said there are more than a million registered drones in the United States. And on any given day There may be about 8,500 drones flying. Ryder noted that the vast majority of drones are used by hobbyists or for recreational purposes. There are also commercial drones that could be used in architecture, engineering, agriculture or law enforcement, he continued.

“Is it possible that some drones may behave maliciously? It’s entirely possible,” Ryder said, adding that for most drones That is not the case. “In the case of drones flying near or over U.S. military installations, Considering the number of drone flights we see each day, It’s not new. We take those things very seriously.”

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Defense Department spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder answered numerous questions from reporters about drones on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolfe)

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin asked Ryder if the drone seen in New Jersey could be part of a walkway built last year. Specifically for testing and evaluating drones and unmanned systems?

Ryder said he checked with joint officials to see if it was possible. and were informed that the drones were not the property of the US military. and was not part of any military operation or experiment. In such a walkway

From mid-November Possible drone sightings have been reported throughout New Jersey. In places like Trump’s Bedminster Golf Course and in military research centers

More than 20 days into the phenomenon, the Pentagon still has no answers about the origins of the mysterious New Jersey drone.

What appears to be a large drone was circling in the high-altitude area of ​​Bay Shore of Toms River, New Jersey, on December 1, 8. The drones appeared to be above the FAA’s permitted height of 400 feet. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Publishing)

Two military facilities in New Jersey where drones have been seen are Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway and Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck.

According to Ryder, the Department of Defense is working to ensure that military installations such as Picatinny and Earle have the ability to detect, identify and, where appropriate, track objects in their airspace.

Unmanned systems are a part of modern warfare and “are here to stay,” Ryder said, so the Defense Department wants to make sure it’s doing what it can to protect its forces from a national security standpoint.

NJ DRONE incident prompts government push for more anti-drone powers Because the current agency is about to expire.

The Pentagon doubled that number on Tuesday. It said a possible drone visible over New Jersey was not a U.S. military asset. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images; Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)

“In addition to some of the capabilities available in these installations, These capabilities will essentially enhance (the ability) of space agencies to detect, identify and track (unmanned aircraft systems),” Ryder said. “For example, This may include active or passive detection capabilities. Plus capabilities such as a system called Drone Busters, which…uses non-kinetic methods to disrupt drone audio signals. which affects the ability to use it”

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Ryder also refuted the rumors that A possible sighting of the drone is accompanied by a large black monolith. rectangular which is a reference to Arthur C. Clark’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

“I have to think back to the words of the wise prophet Obi-Wan Kenobi, who said, ‘These are not droids. The drone you’re looking for,’” Ryder joked. Referring to another science fiction classic, “Star Wars: A New Hope”

“Apart from that I have to move on.”