Legislator Claims Pentagon Deceived on New Jersey's Enigmatic Drones
The Defense Department has issued a public response to Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s assertions regarding drones observed in the state, which he claimed originate from an Iranian “mothership.”
TroibNews 
Rep. Jeff Van Drew accused the Pentagon on Thursday of concealing information regarding mysterious drones spotted near military locations in New Jersey.
On Wednesday, defense officials pushed back against the New Jersey Republican's unverified assertions that car-sized drones in the area were emanating from an Iranian "mothership.” This interchange highlights the evolving perception of drones, which have transitioned from being mere gadgets for hobbyists to becoming a significant national security issue.
“We aren’t being told the truth,” Van Drew stated Thursday during an appearance on Fox News. “They are dealing with the American public like we're stupid.”
The Pentagon rejected Van Drew’s allegation that the drones were launched by foreign entities. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States,” asserted Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, who did not provide information on the reason for the recent drone activity in New Jersey.
During his Thursday remarks, Van Drew seemed to moderate his previous claim, suggesting that there is a “real possibility it could be Iran, that it could be a ship.” He also mentioned the possibility of Chinese involvement.
He characterized his sources as individuals with security clearances who were "in essence, whistleblowers." However, he did not offer any tangible evidence to back his assertions.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also dismissed Van Drew's claims, stating, “I’m not sure what he’s been watching lately, but he might want to watch the news. Israel has decapitated Iran, and we have, through economic sanctions… So let’s not try to fear monger this. Let’s try to honestly put our heads down with a sense of urgency, based on facts, and try to figure this out together.”
According to New Jersey Assemblymember Dawn Fantasia, the drones in question can measure up to “six feet in diameter” and are undetectable through conventional radio frequency monitoring, as she conveyed following a law enforcement briefing.
The challenges in identifying the drones via radio frequency may indicate the use of advanced or altered technology.
Typically, security personnel can track the communication signal between a drone and its operator, but drone operators in Ukraine have innovatively developed methods to control drones without such signals, including the use of fiber-optic cables. However, there have been no indications suggesting that the drones in New Jersey originate from Ukraine.
These sightings come in the wake of reports of unidentified drones operating over U.S. military bases in Virginia and the United Kingdom.
Dustin Racioppi contributed to this report.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Wednesday, defense officials pushed back against the New Jersey Republican's unverified assertions that car-sized drones in the area were emanating from an Iranian "mothership.” This interchange highlights the evolving perception of drones, which have transitioned from being mere gadgets for hobbyists to becoming a significant national security issue.
“We aren’t being told the truth,” Van Drew stated Thursday during an appearance on Fox News. “They are dealing with the American public like we're stupid.”
The Pentagon rejected Van Drew’s allegation that the drones were launched by foreign entities. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States,” asserted Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, who did not provide information on the reason for the recent drone activity in New Jersey.
During his Thursday remarks, Van Drew seemed to moderate his previous claim, suggesting that there is a “real possibility it could be Iran, that it could be a ship.” He also mentioned the possibility of Chinese involvement.
He characterized his sources as individuals with security clearances who were "in essence, whistleblowers." However, he did not offer any tangible evidence to back his assertions.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also dismissed Van Drew's claims, stating, “I’m not sure what he’s been watching lately, but he might want to watch the news. Israel has decapitated Iran, and we have, through economic sanctions… So let’s not try to fear monger this. Let’s try to honestly put our heads down with a sense of urgency, based on facts, and try to figure this out together.”
According to New Jersey Assemblymember Dawn Fantasia, the drones in question can measure up to “six feet in diameter” and are undetectable through conventional radio frequency monitoring, as she conveyed following a law enforcement briefing.
The challenges in identifying the drones via radio frequency may indicate the use of advanced or altered technology.
Typically, security personnel can track the communication signal between a drone and its operator, but drone operators in Ukraine have innovatively developed methods to control drones without such signals, including the use of fiber-optic cables. However, there have been no indications suggesting that the drones in New Jersey originate from Ukraine.
These sightings come in the wake of reports of unidentified drones operating over U.S. military bases in Virginia and the United Kingdom.
Dustin Racioppi contributed to this report.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
