A drone sighting that quickly raised alarms at one of many United States Air Power’s largest and most strategic airfields earlier this month was extra intensive, and doubtlessly extra harmful, than first reported, based on a confidential inside briefing doc reviewed by ABC Information.
Barksdale Air Power Base in Louisiana stated it was underneath a shelter-in-place order March 9 after “a report of an unmanned aerial system working over the set up.”
The sighting raised considerations as a result of Barksdale homes long-range B-52 bombers and performs a vital position in command and management of the Air Power nuclear protection capabilities.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted later that day however the unauthorized drone flights continued for almost every week.
“Barksdale Air Power Base detected a number of unauthorized drones working in our airspace in the course of the week of March ninth,” Capt. Hunter Rininger of the 2nd Bomb Wing stated in an announcement offered to ABC Information. The extra drone incursions had not been beforehand reported.
In keeping with the confidential briefing doc dated March 15, the drones got here in waves and entered and exited the bottom in a means that will counsel makes an attempt to “keep away from the operator(s) being situated.” Lights on the drones advised the operators “could also be testing safety responses” on the base.
“Between March 9-15, 2026, BAFB Safety Forces noticed a number of waves of 12-15 drones working over delicate areas of the set up, together with the flight line, with plane displaying non-commercial sign traits, long-range management hyperlinks and resistance to jamming,” the doc stated. “After reaching a number of factors throughout the set up, the drones dispersed throughout delicate places on the bottom.”
The flights lasted round 4 hours every day and the drones used diverse routes of ingress and deliberate maneuvering inside restricted airspace.
FAIRFORD, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: A cargo airplane comes into land with two US Air Power B-1 bombers within the foreground at RAF Fairford on March 11, 2026 in Fairford, England. Since UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the US to make use of British bases to launch defensive strikes in opposition to Iranian missile websites, a wide range of US navy plane together with B52 bombers, and B-1 bombers, have arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Photographs
“Definitely, it gave the impression to be extra than simply your common drone fanatic who simply pushed it too far,” stated ABC Information contributor Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of protection. “It regarded like this was deliberate and intentional to see simply how they might react.”
The briefing features a willpower that the drones have been completely different than what the standard shopper may buy off the shelf. They gave the impression to be customized constructed and required “superior information” of sign operations.
The analysts stated “with excessive confidence” they anticipated unauthorized drones to proceed to function in and round Barksdale Air Power Base within the quick future.
“The drone incursions at BAFB pose a big menace to public security and nationwide safety since they require the flight line to be shut down whereas additionally placing manned aircrafts already inflight within the space in danger,” the doc stated.
The FAA referred ABC Information to the navy for remark. The Louisiana State Police, which can also be aiding the investigation, declined to remark.
“Flying a drone over a navy set up isn’t solely a security concern, it’s a prison offense underneath federal legislation. We’re working carefully with federal and native legislation enforcement companies to analyze these incursions. The safety of our set up and the protection of our persons are high priorities, and we are going to proceed to vigilantly monitor our airspace,” Capt. Rininger’s assertion stated.
