Drone experts rule out US government experiment, unsure of other New Jersey drone phenomenon theories

Drone experts have ruled out the possibility of a United States government experiment being behind the recent drone sightings in New Jersey. However, they remain uncertain about other potential explanations for the phenomena.

The FBI revealed its budget for counter-drone technology to be only $500,000 per year, leading some to question whether hobbyists could be responsible for the occurrences. Military analysts have weighed in on the situation, casting doubt on the possibility of foreign involvement.

“It’s way less likely that it’s a foreign actor,” said Dr. Kathleen Pettyjohn, a military analyst. “I would assume that it’s someone who’s here locally, which may be a spy, which may be a nefarious actor, but that they’re individuals on the ground, and it’s just easier to blend in and difficult to identify who they are and where they are with these rather innocuous systems.”

Pettyjohn added that the drones would likely need to be operated by someone physically present in the US, citing their short flight duration. “They can be in the air probably on the order of, like, five hours or so, or less, and a lot of them, it’s way less than that. And that just means that they have to be someone probably physically here, [who] is flying them.”

Other experts have offered alternative theories, including the possibility of an adversary seeking to create a diversion.

“I think that they’re trying to attract our attention, distract us from something that’s happening elsewhere,” said China expert Gordon Chang. “So, I worry about what is going on that we’re not paying attention to because of the drones.”

Chang suggested that the drone sightings could be an attempt by an adversary to draw attention away from a more serious threat or attack.

It remains unclear what is behind the recent drone phenomena in New Jersey, but experts are unanimous in their dismissal of a US government experiment.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com