The Pentagon is weighing the deployment of “powerful” anti-drone technology to a Washington, D.C., military installation that houses two top Cabinet officials, according to a report published Tuesday.
Officials are considering sending a laser-based defense system to Fort Lesley J. McNair, where multiple drones of unknown origin were detected earlier this month, The New York Times reported, citing four people briefed on the discussions. The installation sits less than four miles from the White House and is located within some of the most tightly controlled airspace in the country.
The proposal, however, faces logistical challenges. The Times noted that deploying such a system over Washington’s high-traffic airspace could complicate efforts, given the risks associated with operating advanced counter-drone technology in a densely populated and heavily regulated flight zone.
The deliberations follow a series of recent drone incidents that have raised security concerns across multiple U.S. military installations. Earlier this month, unidentified drones were spotted over Fort McNair on at least one night, prompting heightened monitoring and internal discussions about potential responses. The sightings also led officials to consider relocating senior officials who reside at the base, though they ultimately remained in place, according to prior reporting.
The incidents in Washington are part of a broader pattern of drone activity near sensitive military sites.
On March 9, personnel at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, were ordered to shelter in place after an unmanned aircraft was observed overhead. Although the order was lifted later that day, additional drone sightings were reported at the base throughout the week.
Officials have not publicly identified the source of the drones in any of the incidents, and investigations remain ongoing. The recent activity has underscored growing concerns within the Pentagon about the vulnerability of domestic military installations to unmanned aerial systems, particularly as global tensions continue to rise.
