AARO Provides Classified Briefing to Lawmakers Amid New Jersey Mystery Drone Incursions

Unexplained drone sightings over New Jersey began on or around November 13, 2024, when a security officer at Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County reportedly became one of the first to observe the objects. By the first week of December, at least ten confirmed sightings and seven unconfirmed sightings had occurred in the vicinity of the arsenal alone, and reports had spread across ten counties statewide. Observers frequently described the drones as larger than hobbyist models — some likening them to the size of an automobile — traveling in groups, producing buzzing noises, and repeatedly overflying critical infrastructure including railroads, reservoirs, and military installations under cover of darkness.

Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander, issued a statement to The Debrief confirming that the objects are "not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities" while acknowledging that "the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown." The Morris County Prosecutor's Office released a public advisory on December 3, 2024, stating there was "no known threat to public safety" but acknowledging law enforcement's awareness of the recurring reports. Middletown Mayor Tony Perry wrote to U.S. Senator Cory Booker noting drone sightings over Naval Weapons Station Earle and requesting FBI and DHS briefings. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy confirmed 49 sightings on a single night, including approximately 20 over Hunterdon County, and stated he was in direct contact with the White House and Homeland Security leadership.

On December 6, 2024 — a Friday — AARO provided a classified briefing to lawmakers. The content of that briefing and whether it specifically addressed the New Jersey drone sightings or the concurrent UK airbase incursions was not publicly disclosed. AARO Director Dr. Jon Kosloski had earlier testified before the Senate that while AARO is not directly tasked with investigating drone sightings, the office's work on UAP detection could yield "best practices" transferable to counter-UAS efforts. This statement was made in response to questioning by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

In a parallel development, the DoD on December 5, 2024, announced a new classified counter-UAS strategy. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated at a press conference that "unmanned systems have the potential to pose both an urgent and enduring threat to US personnel, facilities, and assets overseas and, increasingly, in the US homeland," and that the new strategy is tied to the Joint Counter Small UAS Office and the Replicator 2 initiative. Ryder denied that the strategy's timing was driven by the recent domestic or UK drone incidents, describing it as the product of long-running internal work.

On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, a Joint Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence and Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing addressed domestic counter-UAS security gaps, featuring participation from the NFL, the Justice Department, the FBI, and other agencies. Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) noted in opening remarks that "the proliferation of UASs both domestically and abroad has raised serious concerns regarding their potential misuse in criminal activities, espionage, and more alarmingly, in threats to U.S. National Security." The FBI's Newark Field Office issued a public tip line (1-800-CALL-FBI; tips.fbi.gov) and acknowledged it did not yet have definitive information to share publicly.