OPINION: Drones or UFOs? Alarming incursions demand answers

The U.S. military is confronting an unsettling phenomenon. Over the last five years, a series of bizarre — and remarkably brazen — “drone swarms” have overwhelmed key Department of Defense facilities and assets, including nuclear missile silos. Notably, some of the objects appear to exhibit unconventional technology.

As Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated on April 9, “We see consistent incursions around sensitive government facilities.”

Despite the U.S. government’s sweeping investigative authorities and abilities, the puzzling incidents remain a mystery. None have been decisively tied to foreign or domestic actors.

For its part, the Pentagon has been unwilling or perhaps unable to present any photographic or video evidence that conventional drones are responsible for the most perplexing encounters. Asked whether he had seen any images of the objects, Kelly responded “no.”