Leader Schumer Demands Answers On Mystery Drones Across New York, New Jersey, And The Northeast; Urges Immediate Deployment Of State Of The Art Drone Technology To Get To The Bottom Of Mystery; Will Call For Passage Of Legislation That Gives Local Leaders More Tools ASAP

New York, N.Y. – Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, urging the Department to immediately deploy special drone-detection technology amid continued drone sightings over New York and New Jersey. Leader Schumer also announced that he will co-sponsor federal legislation which will give local authorities more tools for drone detection.

Amid continued drone sightings and sustained questions across New York and New Jersey, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), urging the Department to immediately deploy special drone-detection technology like the ‘ROBIN’ – a 360-degree technology - across New York and New Jersey. Leader Schumer wrote that the key to solving these sightings mysteries centers on finding out where the drones take off and land from. Leader Schumer also announced he will co-sponsor S.1631 – the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2023 – which would give locals more tools for drone detection.

“Currently, local officials are trying to find answers to this serious problem with their hands tied behind their backs. If the federal government has the technology to address the epidemic of  non-stop drone sightings, we should do everything we can to help,” said Leader Schumer. “In the briefing I organized last week for Senate offices, technology like the ‘Robin,’ which uses the latest technology to detect even the smallest of objects with 360-degree precision was discussed—and I want it deployed widely across New York and New Jersey to help give us concrete answers on what is going on, and from where. What we need right now is data. The briefings I have had tell me there is no evidence that this is a government or foreign activity, and so, we have to answer the logical of question of: who? In these recent sightings, you have a vast array of variables, and we need to lock in on the broadest one: location.”

According to Onlogic, drone radar is based on the use of radio waves. The radio waves are sent out in short pulses which are reflected by objects in their path. From this information, a radar system like the Robin, can tell how big an object is and how fast it’s moving—and from where.

Traditional radar technology is very good at picking up large objects flying in a predictable pattern like an airplane. But it can struggle to detect drones for several reasons, Schumer cited:

1. Drones are small or may not reflect the radio waves
2. It is difficult for traditional radar to distinguish a drone from a bird
3. The often erratic flight pattern of a drone makes them difficult to track
4. Multiple drones flying together can confuse a traditional radar system (which has been happening across NY/NJ)

Currently, DHS and DOJ have authorities to use technology to detect drones and in some case take them down via electronic jamming if they fly over critical infrastructure or sensitive sites. However, with reports increasing, DHS and DOJ don’t have the resources to fill the thousands of requests each year they receive to use the authorities to assist state and local partners. S. 1631 would explicitly authorize state and local law enforcement to work with DHS and DOJ to conduct detection operations using equipment like the Robin to locate the source of drone threats. It also creates a program where DHS and DOJ would designate a dozen state/local agencies each year to receive special training to allow them to both detect and bring down drones that threaten critical facilities or mass gatherings like sporting events.

Next week, Leader Schumer will push for S. 1631 to give local officials the tools to urgently address this important matter.

Leader Schumer’s letter to Secretary Mayorkas can be seen below:

Dear Secretary Mayorkas: 

At the briefing that I organized last week, the chief of the Department’s counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) program described the availability of drone-specific radar like the ROBIN to assist in efforts to detect drone signals and help locate the source of these ongoing sightings. Given that drone sightings have been reported across hundreds of miles, and in the vicinity of vulnerable sites such as airports and critical infrastructure, I urge you to deploy additional systems like this across New York and New Jersey. If the Department requires additional resources for drone-specific radar systems, infrared cameras, or other detection technology then please identify the need immediately.

In addition, these sightings have exposed the federal government’s limitations when it comes to the authorities for protecting against the illicit use of UAS. State and local law enforcement agencies currently lack the explicit authorities to assist DHS in deploying technology to detect drone signals. These local agencies are responsible for keeping our citizens safe at the local level, and they must be part of a coordinated response. For this reason, I will co-sponsor and urge my colleagues to support passage of legislation endorsed by the Department, S. 1631, which would address these shortfalls and empower state and local authorities to use drone-detection technology to protect their communities from this emerging threat.

Sincerely, 

U.S Senator Charles Schumer