💣 War drones need specially trained operators: Well, they did. The U.S. Marine Corps is testing a new AI-powered strike drone. Select any target, and Bolt-M follows autonomously, even if it loses connection. To attack, choose the direction, angle and height, and it does the rest. Just … wow.
Mysterious drones over New Jersey: Are they aliens?
© Yuliya Pauliukevich | Dreamstime.com, © Serhii Kuznietsov | Dreamstime.com
The drones hovering over New Jersey fly lower than commercial planes, a few thousand feet up, and produce a slight electric hum. Most are two to three feet long, but some are the size of an SUV.
The internet is bursting with conspiracy theories. Are they military tech? Foreign surveillance? Something not of this world?
I called up my radio pal, George Noory
He’s the host of Coast to Coast AM, heard on over 600 U.S. radio stations, and he’s a leading voice of the unexplained. I asked a question millions of people are wondering: Could this be alien technology?
“It’s bizarre,” Noory agrees. “It just doesn’t sound like the work of a hobbyist — some guy in his backyard with about 50 drones. There’s something else very, very nefarious about this.”
But alien tech? He says it doesn’t add up. “I’m going to rule out [the] extraterrestrial,” he says. “It sounds more like a military effort than anything else.”
What the heck is going on?
The drones gather in clusters at night and fly with their lights off. We’re not talking about little hobby drones or the bigger ones you’d find at tech expos. Reports describe these as massive, multirotor, helicopter-like drones.
The CEO of a remote aircraft company dropped a viral TikTok video claiming the only reason to fly an unmanned drone at night is if you’re “looking for something.” His theory? They’re sniffing out a gas leak or radioactive material. This freaked out podcaster Joe Rogan.
How do we figure out what they are?
There’s some pretty incredible tech that can help:
- Radio-frequency (RF) detection: It sniffs out the communication signals between a drone and its controller to pinpoint its make and model.
- Radar systems: Think of these as high-tech sky-scanning systems that track drones by analyzing their size, speed and flight patterns.
- Robin Radar: This one’s impressive. It uses 360-degree radar combined with AI to detect and track drones within a five-kilometer radius. In other words, it sees everything.
- Remote ID technology: Some drones are required to broadcast identifying details, including the location of their operators. It’s like a digital license plate for drones.
- Declassified radio wave tech: This reads electronic registrations and can track a drone right back to where it lands.
Introducing: Bolt & Bolt-M
Meet the F-47: America’s mind-controlled fighter jet
The F-47 will team up with AI drones to handle threats in real time. No pilots needed.
🦈 Shark fisherman saves the day: Yes, there is such a thing. A shark fisherman (who can’t swim) saved a girl caught in a rip current by airdropping a flotation device with a drone. His first flotation drop missed. Luckily, round 2 was a direct hit. Lifeguards don’t patrol that part of Pensacola Beach, and drones aren’t even allowed farther down. The EMS said it straight: Without him, she wouldn’t be alive.
7,000 miles
That’s the range of the U.S. military’s MQ-9B spy drone. The twist? It just got a whole lot deadlier. They’ve strapped a 25-kilowatt laser to it that can melt incoming kamikaze drones and missiles right out of the sky. And it doesn’t stop there: The laser can be scaled up to 300kW in future versions.
Robo-dog built to defend against drones
The U.S. military is developing a gun-wielding robot dog to protect our forces from aerial drones. The doggo is equipped with an AR-15-type rifle, electro-optical targeting system, infrared/thermal vision and a laser aiming device.
🪖 Welcome to drone country, soldier: The Army just launched its biggest makeover since the Cold War, and it’s all about drones. Think 1,000 drones (paywall link) per combat division, replacing aging gear with swarms of flying surveillance bots, delivery drones and attack craft that would make a Call of Duty dev blush.
🚁 End of an era: DJI is grounding its iconic Phantom drone series. Starting June 1, 2025, support for the Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Advanced will fly off into the sunset. These drones helped kick off the quadcopter craze in 2013. DJI is shifting its focus to newer birds like the Inspire, Mavic, Air, Mini and the beginner-friendly Flip line.
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📢 Government drone testing is back: The FAA says don’t panic if you see them swarming New Jersey skies. They’re testing over 100 drones through April 25. It’s apparently to improve drone detection and to make sure they don’t mess with aircraft navigation. New Mexico, North Dakota and Mississippi, you’re up next. Don’t worry, it’s just 100 flying robots stress-testing your paranoia.
📦 The flying chain saws are back: Amazon’s drone deliveries have officially resumed in College Station, Texas, and Tolleson, Arizona, after a two-month break. Why? Dust. Yep, good old-fashioned dust was messing with the drones’ altitude sensors. There weren’t any incidents, but Amazon hit pause to be safe and fixed it with a software update.
Where are the drones from November?
A few months ago, New Jersey residents were all over the news describing giant drones hovering over their homes at night. What happened?
Who can take down a drone?
The mystery drones over New Jersey reveal why it’s time for clearer rules on taking them down. The details in this short, must-listen podcast.
Maybe they really are UFOs: An Air Force vet posted a bunch of videos of a glowing orb flying over his house in New Jersey. The orb darted around for about 30 minutes in broad daylight. He used to work on airplanes, knows a ton about drones and says he’s never seen anything like it. Have you? See the videos for yourself.
Seriously, what’s going on in NJ? The FAA banned all drones from flying over parts of New Jersey until Jan. 17. The U.S. government’s even saying they’ll shoot down or detain anyone caught in a no-fly zone. Thinking about flying a drone there? First, check the list of 22 areas in which drones are banned.
Spot a mystery drone? Here's how to check
Strange drones are swarming the skies, leaving everyone guessing. Wondering what’s up there? There are tools to help — if it’s on the map.
Mystery drones over New Jersey
For 25 nights, drones have hovered over New Jersey. With no answers from the Pentagon or FAA, questions keep piling up.
🚨 “A state of emergency”: That’s what some lawmakers in New Jersey are calling for, saying the massive drones spotted in their state are coming from an Iranian “mothership” off the East Coast. Meanwhile, almost 30,000 people are swapping theories in a dedicated UFO Facebook group.
Congress bans new DJI drones
Concerns over privacy and foreign spying have fueled a growing debate about the safety of these popular drones already buzzing around our neighborhoods.
More eyes in the sky: Crime-fighting police drones will soon take over for first responders in Arizona. If a Flock camera detects a stolen vehicle, an officer can send a drone to tail the car in less than 90 seconds. It’s safer than a high-speed chase on the highway, and there’s nowhere to hide.