[Beowulf9]

Testifying this week before the Senate’s Judiciary Committee, Willoughby said federal authorities since the start of July to the end of December 2024 detected 60,000 such drone flights just south of the border and 27,000 unique remote-controlled craft doing the flying.

Most of those drones are going up at night or flying at altitudes that are restricted in both Mexico and the United States. That’s 400 feet high in the U.S. and 120 meters in Mexico. That’s enough to give Mexican drone operators a clear view of U.S. Border Patrol agents’ location and movement, send migrants north in a different direction or find places to drop drugs for later pickup.

Willoughby reminded senators how drug cartels have attacked each other – and in some cases Mexican authorities – south of the border with explosives dropped from drones.

Last January, members of transnational criminal organizations attacked a column of Mexican soldiers and police officers in the northern border state of Chihuahua, wounding two public servants.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

How far into the USA do they fly the drones to drop drugs?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

10,000 flights by cartels PER MONTH!

We need serious drone defense on the border. I hope the OBBB includes billions for anti-drone systems. Here's a Grok summary of how to defend against drones. I'd be surprised if Secretaries Hegseth and Noem are not aggressively working this problem.

• Non-Lethal Methods
  • RF Jamming: Disrupts drone signals, forcing landing or return. Effective for commercial drones. Illegal for civilian use in many countries.
  • GPS Spoofing: Sends fake GPS signals to mislead navigation. Works on GPS-reliant drones. Requires expertise; restricted.
  • Net Guns: Fires nets to entangle propellers. Short range (10-50m). Non-destructive but needs skilled operators.
  • Laser Systems: Overheats drone electronics. Precise, long-range. Expensive, military-grade, hazardous if misdirected.
  • Trained Animals: Eagles intercept small drones. Eco-friendly but limited to open areas, small drones.
• Lethal Methods
  • Firearms: Shotguns or rifles target drones. Effective at close range (100-200m). Risky in urban areas; often illegal.
  • Anti-Aircraft Systems: Missiles or autocannons for advanced drones. Highly effective, military-only, costly.
  • Counter-Drones: Armed drones intercept targets. Agile for swarms. Requires advanced tech.
• Emerging Technologies
  • Microwave Weapons: Fry electronics with pulses. Effective against swarms. Military-only, expensive.
  • AI-Based Systems: Detect and neutralize drones with integrated methods. Advanced but specialized.
• Considerations
  • Legality: Strictly regulated (e.g., U.S. FAA, FCC rules).
  • Safety: Falling drones, stray bullets, or jamming can cause harm or disruption.
  • Context: Methods vary by drone type (consumer, military) and environment (urban, battlefield).
• Recommendations
  • Military: Deploy integrated C-UAS systems for comprehensive defense.

[frank ballenger]

60,000 drone flights....

Drones from the cartel do not qualify for frequent flyer miles or points.

[VTenigma]

Time to get serious about an airspace denial system for drones at the border.

[x]

This is certainly something to take up at the next meeting.

[Salvavida]

Guarantee US Northern Command has a solution. Part of that solution is diplomatic. Part of it ain’t.

[Secret Agent Man]

Sounds like excellent target practice.

[darth]

I live near the border.

For years I observed aerostats aloft every night. You can tell when there is overcast and the aerostat is below the clouds. Also you can see the linear shape of the balloon.

I remember when they were marketing these to the government 30 years ago. Aerostats can see everything all the way over the border including small UAVs using radar, IR, visual, and other sensors.

I can’t see any now. Gone.

Were they moved to new mooring locations or eliminated? Did someone get some cartel silver for this action?

I am suspicious.

[ro_dreaming]

Drones can be preprogrammed, but usually controlled remotely.

EM interference is the future.

Full on, broad spectrum interference.

In the world of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

[VRW Conspirator]

Arrogance.

[sauropod]

Bkmk