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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Clearest sign yet Trump is preparing to blitz Iran as huge US air armada of DOZENS of military jets lands in UK & Europe
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE US Air Force has surged more than 40 extra jets into the UK and Europe – including stealth fighter bombers and air to air refuellers – amid fears it will strike Iran. The move is the clearest sign yet that US President Donald Trump is preparing to blitz the country after issuing a two-day deadline and vowing to bring a "real end" to Tehran's nuclear programme. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Footage shows one of the four KC-135 Stratotankers landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Monday Credit: YouTube/Daniel Sander 12 Dozens of US Air Force aircraft, mostly KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers, that left the US last night are starting to reach Europe Credit: FlightRadar24/X 12 Iran State Radio and Television (IRIB) building was smoking after a direct Israeli strike Credit: REXNEWS At least 30 large air-to-air refuellers swooped across the Atlantic this week followed by at least a dozen F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning jets. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is also steaming towards the Gulf to reinforce the carrier USS Carl Vinson. The US President has already warned the "full strength and might" of the military would be used if America was attacked. Dozens of USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers and KC-46 Pegagus tankers swooped into bases in Scotland, Germany, Spain and Crete. At least four KC-135 Stratotankers landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Monday. Hours later the Pentagon scrambled at least a dozen F-22 and F-35 fighter bombers to reinforce troops in Europe and the Middle East. The KC-135s and KC-46s are designed to refuel fighter jets so they can stay airborne for longer and fly further to hit targets. Experts said the F-22s and F-35s would most likely be used to bolster Israel's air defence amid fears Tel Aviv cold run low in its Iron Dome and interceptor missiles. But there are fears the fighter bombers could also be used to strike targets inside Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had ordered 'the deployment of additional capabilities' to the Middle East amid spiralling fears of World War Three. Iran provoking Trump would be grave mistake - Israel is doing world a favour But he insisted their role was 'defensive'. He said: 'Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.' Jets also landed in Italy and Estonia, as well as Scotland, Spain and Crete. American ships have also been used to defend against Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, alongside ground-based interceptors, US officials revealed to NBC News. It came as a US defence official said: 'Consistent with the duty to protect US forces in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command are of responsibility to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel. 'In the U.S. European Command area of operations the U.S. Navy continues to conduct operations in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of US national security objectives.' A mere few hours ago it was revealed that the US is sending the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East as the conflict continues to spiral. The hulking $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier, nicknamed Old Salt, is the flagship of the deadly Carrier Strike Group 11. 12 Trump gestures after returning early from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada Credit: Reuters 12 A defence source said their most likely role would be to intercept missiles fired at Israel if Tel Aviv runs out of air defence missiles Credit: FlightRadar24/X 12 Dozens of USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers as well as KC-46 Pegagus tankers swooped into bases in Scotland, Germany, Spain and Crete Credit: Youtube 12 The Pegasus jets and Stratotankers are designed to refuel fighter jets in mid-air Credit: Jordan Castelan The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing Seventeen and Destroyer Squadron Nine - a potent combination of military hardware that will strike fear into Iran. The Nimitz left the South China Sea Monday morning heading west towards the Middle East, where it will be stationed. The USS Nimitz will provide a major boost to US military presence in the region. And The Sun knows first hand of the true might of this awesome 100,000 ton warship. Trump has also given a two-day deadline for a "REAL end" to Iran's nuclear programme. He has also urged Tehran to evacuate "everyone". Israel's ambassador also hinted at something big on the horizon - promising lethal "surprises" on Thursday that would dwarf its operations to date. As Trump rushed back meet his National Security Council, he vowed he was chasing something "better than a ceasefire", which will force Iran into a "complete give up". He refused to specify the endgame, but ominously warned: "You're going to find out over the next two days." Trump's prophecy coincides with one from the Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, who said: "We've pulled off a number of surprises. 12 The final destination is unknown Credit: FlightRadar24/X 12 The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is heading for the Middle East Credit: AFP 12 A missile streaking over Jerusalem as sirens rang out Credit: EPA "When the dust settles, you're going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple." He was referring to Israel's incredible operation to detonate explosives planted in thousands of pagers owned by Hezbollah members in Lebanon. Trump dramatically left Monday's G7 summit in Canada a day early - and has repeatedly insisted it was not to pursue peace talks with Iran "in any way, shape or form". Israel and Iran continue to trade missiles for a fifth day, with Tehran's civilians fleeing the city in their thousands and a handful of casualties reported by Tel Aviv. The IDF said it has killed Iran's most senior military commander - and the person closest to the Supreme Leader - for the second time in five days. Iran claimed today it had hit the HQ of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad - though this has not been confirmed - and repeatedly warned of stepping up missile and drone attacks. Israel reported this morning that around 30 missiles were involved in Iran's latest wave. Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran. Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed. Sun's trip onboard USS Nimitz By Ryan Parry, Senior Reporter AS America sends the flagship USS Nimitz supercarrier to the Middle East amid rising tensions, the Sun reveals what life is like onboard. The Sun spent two days on board the Nimitz, nicknamed Old Salt, a $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier weighing almost 100,000 tons. The warship is 1,092ft long and 252ft wide and has a four and a half acre flight deck. The massive 117,000 sq ft warship boasts four aircraft catapults and jets are brought up to the deck using four giant elevators from the hangar deep below the 4.5 acre flight deck. The supercarrier, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11, holds F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and F-35C stealth strike fighters. Inside the ten floor, 3,000 room hull underneath the flight deck life is one slick operation. There are several cafeterias, gyms, a Starbucks coffee shop and 'luxury' state rooms for 'Distinguished Visitors'. Since it is nuclear-powered, the Nimitz – call sign NMTZ - can operate for up to 20 years without refueling. The Nimitz is the world's second largest supercarrier, only behind the Gerald R Ford. 12 The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Ghadir site in Tehran has been obliterated by Israel in recent days Credit: AFP
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Clearest sign yet Trump is preparing to blitz Iran as huge US air armada of DOZENS of military jets lands in UK & Europe
THE US Air Force has surged more than 40 extra jets into the UK and Europe – including stealth fighter bombers and air to air refuellers – amid fears it will strike Iran. The move is the clearest sign yet that US President Donald Trump is preparing to blitz the country after Advertisement 12 Footage shows one of the four KC-135 Stratotankers landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Monday Credit: YouTube/Daniel Sander 12 Dozens of US Air Force aircraft, mostly KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers, that left the US last night are starting to reach Europe Credit: FlightRadar24/X 12 Iran State Radio and Television (IRIB) building was smoking after a direct Israeli strike Credit: REXNEWS At least 30 large air-to-air refuellers swooped across the Atlantic this week followed by at least a dozen F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning jets. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is also The US President has already warned the "full strength and might" of the military would be used if America was attacked. Dozens of USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers and KC-46 Pegagus tankers swooped into bases in Scotland, Germany, Spain and Crete. Advertisement At least four KC-135 Stratotankers landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Monday. Hours later the Pentagon scrambled at least a dozen F-22 and F-35 fighter bombers to reinforce troops in Europe and the Middle East. The KC-135s and KC-46s are designed to refuel fighter jets so they can stay airborne for longer and fly further to hit targets. Experts said the F-22s and F-35s would most likely be used to bolster Israel's air defence amid fears Tel Aviv cold run low in its Iron Dome and interceptor missiles. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Latest Latest But there are fears the fighter bombers could also be used to strike targets inside Iran . US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had ordered 'the deployment of additional capabilities' to the Middle East amid spiralling fears of World War Three. Iran provoking Trump would be grave mistake - Israel is doing world a favour But he insisted their role was 'defensive'. He said: 'Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.' Advertisement Jets also landed in Italy and Estonia, as well as Scotland, Spain and Crete. American ships have also been used to defend against Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, alongside ground-based interceptors, US officials revealed to It came as a US defence official said: 'Consistent with the duty to protect US forces in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command are of responsibility to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel. 'In the U.S. European Command area of operations the U.S. Navy continues to conduct operations in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of US national security objectives.' Advertisement A mere few hours ago it was revealed that the The hulking $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier, nicknamed Old Salt, is the flagship of the deadly Carrier Strike Group 11. 12 Trump gestures after returning early from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada Credit: Reuters 12 A defence source said their most likely role would be to intercept missiles fired at Israel if Tel Aviv runs out of air defence missiles Credit: FlightRadar24/X Advertisement 12 Dozens of USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers as well as KC-46 Pegagus tankers swooped into bases in Scotland, Germany, Spain and Crete Credit: Youtube 12 The Pegasus jets and Stratotankers are designed to refuel fighter jets in mid-air Credit: Jordan Castelan The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing Seventeen and Destroyer Squadron Nine - a potent combination of military hardware that will strike fear into Iran. The Nimitz left the South China Sea Monday morning heading west towards the Middle East, where it will be stationed. Advertisement The USS Nimitz will provide a major boost to US military presence in the region. And The Sun knows first hand of the true might of this awesome 100,000 ton warship. Trump has also He has also urged Tehran to evacuate "everyone". Advertisement Israel 's ambassador also hinted at something big on the horizon - promising lethal "surprises" on Thursday that would dwarf its operations to date. As Trump rushed back meet his National Security Council, he vowed he was chasing something "better than a ceasefire", which will force Iran into a "complete give up". He refused to specify the endgame, but ominously warned: "You're going to find out over the next two days." Trump's prophecy coincides with one from the Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, who said: "We've pulled off a number of surprises. Advertisement 12 The final destination is unknown Credit: FlightRadar24/X 12 The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is heading for the Middle East Credit: AFP 12 A missile streaking over Jerusalem as sirens rang out Credit: EPA "When the dust settles, you're going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple." Advertisement He was referring to Israel's incredible operation to detonate explosives planted in thousands of pagers owned by Hezbollah members in Lebanon. Trump dramatically Israel and Iran continue to trade missiles for a fifth day, with Tehran's civilians fleeing the city in their thousands and a handful of casualties reported by Tel Aviv. The IDF said it has Advertisement Iran claimed today it had hit the HQ of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad - though this has not been confirmed - and repeatedly warned of stepping up missile and drone attacks. Israel reported this morning that around 30 missiles were involved in Iran's latest wave. Read more on the Irish Sun Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran. Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed. Advertisement Sun's trip onboard USS Nimitz By AS America sends the flagship USS Nimitz supercarrier to the Middle East amid rising tensions, the Sun reveals what life is like onboard. The Sun spent two days on board the Nimitz, nicknamed Old Salt, a $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier weighing almost 100,000 tons. The warship is 1,092ft long and 252ft wide and has a four and a half acre flight deck. The massive 117,000 sq ft warship boasts four aircraft catapults and jets are brought up to the deck using four giant elevators from the hangar deep below the 4.5 acre flight deck. The supercarrier, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11, holds F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and F-35C stealth strike fighters. Inside the ten floor, 3,000 room hull underneath the flight deck life is one slick operation. There are several cafeterias, gyms, a Starbucks coffee shop and 'luxury' state rooms for 'Distinguished Visitors'. Since it is nuclear-powered, the Nimitz – call sign NMTZ - can operate for up to 20 years without refueling. The Nimitz is the world's second largest supercarrier, only behind the Gerald R Ford. 12 The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Ghadir site in Tehran has been obliterated by Israel in recent days Credit: AFP 12 The roads out of Tehran were jammed with cars as Trump ordered the city to evacuate Credit: Reuters
Business Insider
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Anduril gave everyone a behind-the-scenes look at Fury, its AI fighter built to fly with America's most fearsome aircraft
Palmer Luckey's Anduril just gave the world an inside glimpse of its new project for the US Air Force — an uncrewed fighter jet that teams up with piloted aircraft. The military startup was featured on Sunday in a CBS 60 Minutes segment, during which a few clips showed Anduril's Fury drone being assembled in a hangar or warehouse. It's not the first time the drone was shown to the public — the Air Force unveiled a test representative model on May 1. But the TV segment reveals a few more details about the drone's make. In one clip, two engineers are seen fixing a wing on the Fury, the defense startup's offering for the Air Force's collaborative combat aircraft program. That speaks to the aircraft's modular design. Anduril says the Fury, like many of its other products, is built so that its parts can be easily swapped out and customized. Both engineers are also filmed using screwdrivers to secure the wing onto the aircraft. The company has said that it wants the Fury to be manufactured at scale and possibly in many different workshops in the US instead of relying on a few highly specialized facilities. CBS also showed a conceptual clip of a scenario in which three Fury drones flew as a team in front of a crewed fighter jet and helped it strike an enemy aircraft. "These fly out ahead of manned fighters, and they're able to find the enemy first, able to engage the enemy well before a manned fighter has to be seen or is in range," Brian Schimpf, Anduril's CEO, told CBS. Such a mission is part of the Air Force's vision for its advanced fighter jets to fight alongside drones that act as "loyal wingmen," or for the drones to be used in missions on their own. It's expected to be a key feature of the F-47, the sixth-generation stealth fighter developed by Boeing. But the Air Force has also said it hopes to integrate the program with F-35 Lightning IIs and F-22 Raptors. Air Force leadership has said its priority is making the drones affordable and easy to manufacture, as it hopes to bring mass to the skies since its fleet has shrunk in favor of more advanced aircraft. Anduril was chosen to compete for the program, but the Fury hasn't clinched the contract yet. Dubbed YFQ-44A by the Air Force, the aircraft is competing for the bid with General Atomics, which is also offering a drone with a modular design. The Pentagon is expected to make early decisions during the fiscal year of 2026, which starts in October.
Business Insider
09-05-2025
- Business Insider
US Air Force's massive 53-aircraft runway exercise 'sends a message you can't ignore' to rivals like China
What is an elephant walk? Dating back to World War II, the term "elephant walk" referred to the taxiing of military aircraft en masse before taking off in single-file formations like a herd of elephants walking trunk-to-tail. Elephant walks not only demonstrate operational airpower and readiness but also train military pilots in wartime operations that involve launching a large number of sorties in a short period of time. Third-largest elephant walk in Air Force history Elephant walks typically involve a large number of aircraft, and the Kadena Air Base event on Okinawa was no exception — 53 Air Force and Navy aircraft, as well as two Army Patriot air defense batteries, participated in the runway display. The elephant walk could be the largest to ever take place in Japan, nearly twice the size of last year's 33-aircraft display at the base, which featured F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons. The Kadena elephant walk is among the largest ever by the US Air Force, outnumbering an elephant walk in 2020 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that only featured F-35A Lightning II aircraft. In April 2023, 80 aircraft were displayed in an elephant walk at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, a 70-aircraft demonstration consisted of only F-15E Strike Eagles, making it the largest single-type elephant walk. Rescue helicopters, drones, and fighter jets Fighter jets made up more than half of the elephant walk, with 24 F-35As, eight F-15Es, and two Navy EA-18 Growlers. Six HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters led the herd, along with two MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are used for surveillance and precision strikes. Cargo planes, tankers, and spy planes Two MC-130J Commando II special operations cargo planes and six KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft brought up the rear of the formation. Three spy planes also made an appearance in the elephant walk — one E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, one RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, and one P-8 Poseidon operated by the Navy for maritime patrol and reconnaissance. The formation was flanked by two US Army MIM-104 Patriot missile interceptors, which have proven to be vital assets in the US' air defense strategy against Chinese missile threats. Exercise Beverly Herd The airpower demonstration on Okinawa was an iteration of Exercise Beverly Herd, an annual military exercise that prepares US and allied forces for combat in the Pacific. Aside from the elephant walk, rescue and maintenance squadrons stationed at Kadena also practiced surveilling damage on an airfield, and Air Force civil engineers worked with Navy specialists to remove simulated unexploded ordnance from the runway. At Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, about 11 miles from Kadena, F-35 fighter squadrons from Eielson Air Force Base are also training in warfighting concepts and maneuvers focused on Agile Combat Employment, which is designed to increase lethality and survivability in combat. 'A message you can't ignore' The military exercises come as China escalates its military presence in the Pacific over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own. "An elephant walk like this sends a message you can't ignore," Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, said in a statement. "It shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we're united, capable, and ready." China's rapid military build-up has been fueling tension with other US allies on the First Island Chain, which includes Japan and the Philippines. The latter nation also has ongoing territorial disputes with China, primarily in the South China Sea. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific The Beverly Herd exercises were among a series of military drills the US and its allies are hosting in the Indo-Pacific theater to counter growing Chinese aggression in the region. Earlier this month, the US and the Philippines held a joint exercise, Balikatan, at a strategic chokepoint south of Taiwan. China criticized the military drills, accusing the US and the Philippines of using Taiwan as an excuse to "provoke tension and confrontation." "This kind of teamwork and presence is exactly how we maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific," Wolfgang said of the Kadena elephant walk.
CBS News
16-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
How the U.S. is confronting the threat posed by drones swarming sensitive national security sites
Last month – the head of NORAD and NORTHCOM – the military commands that defend North America – told Congress some of those mysterious drones seen flying inside the United States may indeed have been spying. He did not say for whom. 60 Minutes has been looking into a series of eerily similar incidents – going back years – including those attention getting flyovers in New Jerse y recently. In each, drones first appeared over restricted military or civilian sites, coming and going – often literally – "under the radar." The wake-up call came just over a year ago, when drones invaded the skies above Langley Air Force base in Virginia over 17 nights, forcing the relocation of our most advanced fighter jets. Our story starts with an eyewitness and an iPhone. Jonathan Butner: Close around 7 o'clock, I would say, I started seeing these reddish, orange flashing lights that were starting to come in from the Virginia Beach area. It began slowly, like, one at a time. Jonathan Butner's close encounter with drones came on Dec. 14, 2023. He was at his family's cabin on the James River in Virginia, about 100 miles south of Washington, D.C, with a commanding view of several military installations across the water. Jonathan Butner: They started really coming in, like, almost, like, on a conveyor belt. Bill Whitaker: How many in total? Jonathan Butner: I probably saw upwards of 40 plus. When I first saw that, I was like, "Those are going directly over Langley Air Force Base." Langley is one of the most critical air bases on the East Coast – home to dozens of F-22 Raptors, the most advanced stealth fighter jets ever built. Butner says from his perch he has seen it all. Jonathan Butner: I'm very familiar with all the different types of military craft. We have Blackhawks, we have the F-22s. And these were like nothing I've ever seen. Butner took these iPhone videos of the objects coming and going for nearly an hour and a half. These are the only public videos of the drones over Langley. Bill Whitaker: Here's another one. Jonathan Butner: Yes. He shared this video with the FBI for its investigation. Bill Whitaker: And another. Jonathan Butner: Yes. Gen. Mark Kelly (retired): The reports were coming in 20-to-30 sightings, same time every evening, 30-to-45 minutes after sunset. Retired four-star Gen. Mark Kelly was the highest-ranking officer at Langley to witness the swarm. A veteran fighter pilot, Kelly went up to the roof of a squadron headquarters for an unobstructed view of the airborne invaders. Bill Whitaker: So what'd you see? Gen. Mark Kelly (retired): Well, what you saw was different sizes of incursions of aircraft. You saw different altitudes, different air speeds. Some were rather loud. Some weren't near as loud. Bill Whitaker: What was the smallest one? What was the largest one? Gen. Mark Kelly (retired): The smallest, you know you're talking about a commercial-size quadcopter. And then the largest ones are probably size what I would call a bass boat or a small car. Bill Whitaker: The size of a small car? Gen. Mark Kelly (retired): Mhmm (affirm). At the time, Gen. Glen VanHerck was joint commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, the military commands that protect North American airspace. He has since retired. Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): I actually provided support in the form of fighters, airborne warning and control platforms, helicopters to try to further categorize what those drones were at the time. Ten months earlier, he ordered an F-22 from Langley to shoot down that Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic after it had sailed across the U.S., but this time, he found himself ill-equipped to respond. NORAD's radar systems, designed during the Cold War to detect high-altitude air, space or missile attacks, were unable to detect low flying drones that could be seen with the naked eye. Bill Whitaker: Why don't we just shoot them down? Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): Well, first, you have to have the capability to detect, track, identify, make sure it's not a civilian airplane flying around. If you can do that, Bill, then it becomes a safety issue for the American public. Firing missiles in our homeland is not taken lightly. Bill Whitaker: We're not able to track them? We're not able to see where they originate? Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): No, it's the capability gap. Certainly they can come and go from any direction. The FBI is looking at potential options. But they don't have an answer right now. And there haven't been answers for similar encroachments for more than five years. In 2019, naval warships training off the California coast were shadowed for weeks by dozens of drones. For years, the pentagon did little to dispel speculation these images, taken with night vision equipment, were UFOs. But ships' logs show they were identified as drones at the time. and the Navy suspected they came from this Hong Kong flagged freighter sailing nearby, but couldn't prove it. Since then, the defense news site, The War Zone, has documented dozens of drone intrusions at sensitive infrastructure and military installations: in 2019, the Palo Verde nuclear plant in Arizona, the largest power producer in the country; in 2024, an experimental weapons site in Southern California where defense contractors are building the next generation of stealth bombers. Last December, the Army confirmed 11 drone sightings over the Picatinny Arsenal in northern New Jersey, where advanced weapons are designed and built, which ignited a public frenzy, with sightings of unidentified flying objects all over the region. While much of the country was fixated on New Jersey, another swarm of drones was disrupting operations at an a ir base in the U.K. where U.S. nuclear weapons have been stored. Sen. Roger Wicker: Clearly, there is a military intelligence aspect of this. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi is chairman of the Armed Services Committee that oversees the Pentagon. We talked to him this past December. Bill Whitaker: Do you believe that these drones are a spying system, a spying platform? Sen. Roger Wicker: What would a logical person conclude? Bill Whitaker: That. That these are spying incursions. Sen. Roger Wicker: Yes. And, and yet I can tell you, I am privy to, to classified briefings at the highest level. I think the Pentagon and the National Security advisors are still mystified. Bill Whitaker: Still mystified? Sen. Roger Wicker: Yes. More alarming: with drones overhead, some of the F-22s stationed at Langley were moved to a nearby air base for their own protection. There's a new wartime reality: drones that can spy can also destroy. Deep inside Russia, advanced aircraft have been destroyed by Ukrainian drones. Gen. VanHerck told us drones could do the same thing here. Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): I have seen video of drones in various sizes flying over the F-22 flightline at Langley. Bill Whitaker: What's your reaction to that? They could drop ordnance on them, drop bombs on, they could crash into them to disable them. Was that a concern? Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): Absolutely it's a concern. A small UAS, or drones, can do a myriad of missions. President Biden was informed of the Langley intrusions, and meetings were held at the White House to figure out how to bring the drones down. But after 17 nights, the drone visitations stopped. A senior official in the Biden White House later downplayed the incident to 60 Minutes, saying it was likely the work of hobbyists. Bill Whitaker: From what you saw, did you rule out that these might be hobbyists sending these drones up? Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): No. It would be my assessment they weren't hobbyists because of the magnitude of the events, the sizes of some of the drones, and the duration. Bill Whitaker: So what's going on? Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): Well, I wish I had the answer. It certainly could have a foreign nexus, a threat nexus. They could be doing anything, from surveilling critical infrastructure, just to the point of embarrassing us from the fact that they can do this on a day-to-day basis and then we're not able to do anything about it. In overseas war zones, the U.S. military has broad authority to bring down menacing drones with gunfire, missiles, and electronic jamming. Here at home, any of those actions would pose a threat to civilians on the ground and in the air. Gen. Gregory Guillot: Well, we certainly need new systems to counter this threat. A year ago, Gen. Gregory Guillot – a combat veteran – took control of NORAD and NORTHCOM. He ordered a 90-day assessment of operations and says the drones – or UAVs – at Langley became the centerpiece. Bill Whitaker: We're the most powerful military on the face of the earth. And yet, drones could fly over a major Air Force base and we couldn't stop them? How is that possible? Gen. Gregory Guillot: Well, I think the, the threat got ahead of our ability to detect and, and track the threat. I think all eyes were, rightfully, overseas, where UAVs were being used on one-way attack to attack U.S. and coalition service members. And the threat in the U.S. probably caught us by surprise a little bit. Bill Whitaker: As it stands today, could you detect a swarm of drones flying over or flying into the airspace at Langley? Could you detect that today? Gen. Gregory Guillot: At low altitude, probably not with your standard FAA or surveillance radars. Complicating his efforts: bureaucracy. When the drones flew outside the perimeter of Langley Air Force Base, other agencies had jurisdiction: the Coast Guard, FAA, FBI, and local police. There was no one agency in charge. Bill Whitaker: So what did you determine went on at Langley? Gen. Gregory Guillot: Well, that-- that-- that investigation is still ongoing. So I don't think w-- we know-- entirely what happened. Bill Whitaker: You know, when we hear things from the White House that it's not deemed a threat, it seems to me that this is, alarming. I mean, this is kind of hair on fire time. Gen. Gregory Guillot: It is alarming. And, I would say that our hair is on fire here in, in NORTHCOM, in a controlled way. And we're moving out extremely quickly. This past November, Gen. Guillot was given the authority to cut through the red tape and coordinate counter drone efforts across multiple government agencies. He says new, more sensitive radar systems are being installed at strategic bases, and NORTHCOM is developing what it calls fly-away kits with the latest anti-drone technology – to be delivered to bases besieged by drones. Gen. Gregory Guillot: My goal is inside of a year that we would have the flyaway kit capability to augment the services and the installations if they're necessary. Bill Whitaker: So within a year, were Langley to happen again, there'd be some ability to respond? Gen. Gregory Guillot: That's my goal. His predecessor, Glen VanHerck, says the Pentagon, White House, and Congress have underestimated this massive vulnerability for far too long. Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): It's been one year since Langley had their drone incursion and we don't have the policies and laws in place to deal with this? That's not a sense of urgency. Bill Whitaker: Why do you think that is? Gen. Glen VanHerck (retired): I think it's because there's a perception that this is fortress America: two oceans on the east and west, with friendly nations north and south, and nobody's gonna attack our homeland. It's time we move beyond that assumption.
