The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team utilized the Skydio X2D drone as a reconnaissance drone on the range. (DVIDS)
Last year, civilians and officials alike appeared flummoxed by repeated sightings of suspicious drones in the Mid-Atlantic – including near the U.S. Army garrison at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, N.J., and President Donald Trump’s nearby golf club.
Several "spy balloons" allegedly launched by China crossed over the Arctic, Great Plains and sandhills in 2023. One balloon was downed and recovered off the Grand Strand, while remnants of another were scooped up in Lake Huron.
Grange said the New Jersey situation was a "critical wake-up call."
"Incidents like that underscore the importance of shifting from reactive posture to proactive deterrence," he said.
"We’re not starting from zero, but we are in a race to close the gap between emerging threats and our ability to counter them."
The idea of an impenetrable North America is not sustainable, he said – warning not to panic but instead to surgically address those vulnerabilities.
"Solving this challenge will require an all-hands-on-deck approach: federal, state, and local governments must work hand-in-hand with private industry, research institutions, and technology developers to close the gaps in our homeland defense posture," Grange said, adding the Ukraine-Russia conflict illustrates "the new face of warfare."
At a December hearing, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, warned that, "in the wrong hands, drone technology can negatively impact American national security while disrupting critical infrastructure."
"We must secure our skies from unauthorized aerial systems, but most importantly the homeland from foreign adversaries."
Pentagon brass testified NORTHCOM would’ve downed any drone that appeared to pose any imminent physical threat.
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Kelly Siegel, CEO of National Technology Management, a Michigan-based cybersecurity firm, told Fox News Digital the Ukraine operation reminds us that more than three-quarters of all drones are made in China.
Drone and cyber-related threats to the homeland overlap, he said.
"Just like drones have rapidly become critical weapons, causing about 65% of Russian battlefield losses, cyber threats evolve at lightning speed. Staying disciplined and ahead of emerging tech is vital."
Russia has already disrupted American-supplied guided weapons by electronically jamming them – an example of something that mirrors current threats to U.S. critical infrastructure and security systems, he added.
Putin, left, Zelenskyy, right (AP)
In response to the concerns, a defense department official told Fox News Digital the Pentagon "routinely conducts threat assessments as the operational environment continues to evolve."
"Our objective is to enable tailored response options to protect our service members and installations. Specific implementation details are not disclosed for operational security reasons."
Israel, a key U.S. ally, is known for its "Iron Dome" missile defense system – backed by more than $2 billion in U.S. funding. The system has played a crucial role in intercepting rocket attacks from Hamas and other malign actors.
The U.S. currently lacks a similar system, though Trump proposed what he calls a "Golden Dome" system.
Canada can join the "Golden Dome" for $61 billion, or become the 51st state and join for free," Trump quipped Friday on Truth Social.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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