New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday December 15 that the federal government is deploying a drone detection system to the state to aid in investigations into recent drone sightings.
The statement comes after drone sightings in the New York area shut down several runways at Stewart Airfield for approximately one hour, with the Governor responding that “This has gone too far.”
In her statement on Sunday, Governor Hochul said:
“In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State. This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations. We are grateful to the Biden Administration for their support, but ultimately we need further assistance from Congress. Passing the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act will give New York and our peers the authority and resources required to respond to circumstances like we face today.”
The US Government has so far not confirmed the origin of the drones, but Hochul and other officials have reassured the public that they do not pose a threat to national security. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC News on Sunday that “we know of no foreign involvement” related to the sightings. He further suggested that changes to Federal Aviation Administration regulations in September 2023 allowing drones to fly at night may explain why there is an increase in reported drone sightings.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer further requested in a press conference on Sunday that a drone detection system be sent to New Jersey, where the majority of sightings were reported. This follows from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s letter to President Biden on 13 December for further support from the federal government to investigate the increasing number of unexplained drone sightings that began in mid-November.
