Chuck Schumer Requests DHS to Implement a System for Drone Detection Amid Rise in Sightings in New York and New Jersey.
Despite all these observations... why do we have more questions than answers?
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide New York and New Jersey authorities with an advanced drone detection system. This request aims to understand the constant sightings in the northeastern United States. During a press conference on December 15, Schumer emphasized that "we have seen many recent sightings in New York, New Jersey, Long Island, and Staten Island," questioning why there are more questions than answers regarding the phenomenon.
Recently, parts of Stewart International Airport were temporarily closed due to these drone sightings, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare that "this has gone too far." Additionally, drone activity also led to the closure of airspace over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for more than four hours. In a related comment, elected President Donald Trump announced that he would cancel a trip to Bedminster, New Jersey, due to sightings in that area, suggesting that "the government knows what is happening" and that "it would be better if they said so."
During a press conference on Sunday, Schumer called for the implementation of a 360-degree detection system, similar to one developed by Robin Radar Systems, a European company that offers micro-doppler radars capable of distinguishing between birds and drones moving at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour in a three-dimensional space. On its website, this company showcases case studies in which its radars have been used for airport security, during the G7 Summit, and for studying bird migration in the Netherlands.
Moreover, Schumer urged Congress to pass the "Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act," which aims to grant local and federal authorities the powers to detect drones more effectively.