Air Force general reveals ‘alarming’ number of drones crossing into US airspace at southern border:

[mystery-ak]

 Air Force general reveals ‘alarming’ number of drones crossing into US airspace at southern border: ‘Over 1,000 a month’
By Social Links for Victor Nava
Published March 15, 2024, 12:52 a.m. ET


More than 1,000 drones per month are crossing into US airspace near the border with Mexico, a top general told lawmakers Thursday.

The number of unmanned drone incursions is “alarming” and presents a “growing” potential threat to national security,  Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of North American Defense Command and US Northern Command, said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

“The number of incursions was something that was alarming to me as I took command last month,” Guillot said in response to a question from Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC).

“I don’t know the actual number – I don’t think anybody does – but it’s in the thousands,” he added.

When pressed by Budd on the timeframe the general was using to make his estimation, Guillot responded, “We can probably have over 1,000 a month.”

The top NORAD official noted that while the number of incursions alarms him, he hasn’t “seen any of them manifest in a threat to the level of national defense.”

more
https://nypost.com/2024/03/15/us-news/air-force-general-reveals-alarming-number-of-drones-crossing-into-us-airspace-at-southern-border/

[DefiantMassRINO]

Why is this a shock?

Criminals are using drones to transport contraband, or, to gather intelligence about Customs and Border Patrol acitivies along Biden's Open Border.

[Smokin Joe]

Why is this a shock?

Criminals are using drones to transport contraband, or, to gather intelligence about Customs and Border Patrol acitivies along Biden's Open Border.

If for no other reason, the coyotes can pick the clear areas to deliver the goods, be they drugs, humans, or whatever.

[mountaineer]

UPDATE

Just spent time with a senior US Border official who shared a series of alarming stories. First, the Chinese and the Mexican cartels are flying drones from Mexico into the US to surveil US law enforcement. The FAA (overseen by @PeteButtigieg ) doesn’t allow any kind of drone interdiction or destruction by U.S. law enforcement. We can set up detection equipment to ‘detect’ if they are flying over, but we legally can’t do anything about it once we find them. ...

More at this X thread:

https://twitter.com/Jkylebass/status/1816599878920999200

[mountaineer]

The Mexican drug cartels' drones have bombs. Nothing to see here.

A drug cartel has attacked a remote Mexican community with drones and gunmen, rights group says
 By  MEGAN JANETSKY
Updated 6:36 PM EDT, January 5, 2024
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A small community in Guerrero, a Mexican state plagued by unrelenting cartel violence, was attacked by drones and armed men, a local human rights group told the Associated Press on Friday.

The religious and human rights organization Minerva Bello Center said Thursday’s attack on at least 30 people was carried out by a drug cartel. The center’s director, José Filiberto Velázquez, said the victims were likely killed, though authorities still had not been able to enter the remote community or confirm the deaths. ...

Velázquez said drone attacks by the cartels and violence have been escalating over the past year. He said he heard from the community around midday Thursday that La Familia Michoacana was launching “explosive devices” from drones.  ...

[Smokin Joe]

I'd be surprised if they haven't been flying in drugs and other contraband a kilo or two at a time (or more).
Recon is a given.
Weaponizing them is not far away.

Here, however, is a wonderful opportunity for the US to come up with counter-drone methods, equipment, and technique. Considering the battlefield in Ukraine, it might behoove us to get ahead of the curve on this, from a military standpoint, if no other.
Declare the first couple of miles back from the border 'Restricted Airspace'.
Use 'violation of restricted airspace' if nothing else to justify downing the drones. Maybe it's be easier to secure the border up there than on the ground.

[GtHawk]

UPDATE

Just spent time with a senior US Border official who shared a series of alarming stories. First, the Chinese and the Mexican cartels are flying drones from Mexico into the US to surveil US law enforcement. The FAA (overseen by @PeteButtigieg ) doesn’t allow any kind of drone interdiction or destruction by U.S. law enforcement. We can set up detection equipment to ‘detect’ if they are flying over, but we legally can’t do anything about it once we find them. ...

More at this X thread:

https://twitter.com/Jkylebass/status/1816599878920999200

Law enforcement isn't allowed to do anything? I suggest some long term skeet competitions on the border, maybe even sponsored by local law enforcment. It would be a real shame if the shooters accidental like hit the drones instead of the clays.