Drone Swarms / Large UAV’s

[TerryPavlick]

The only time a US military operated drone would fly without this is during a war or credible threat to national security.

I presume you are referring to ADS-B - so they can be tracked.

Recently (like two days ago) RangeHawk 02 departed from Wallops headed back to Edwards AFB. It communicated with Giantkiller on its climb to Block 55 - 60 K then headed westbound to destination. While monitorable on ATC - it was not visible on any tracking sites.

 

[RichardKramer]

actually drones and UAS are all over the place. Including way up in the GHZ range

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tec.gov.in/public/pdf/Studypaper/UAV.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiIwf_x5aqKAxVwD1kFHee5J7YQFnoECDMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2tbR3kDtLGUXkRCF1lPzsp

I'm talking about data downlinks; the control uplinks to navigate as you said are in the 2GHz & above range.

 

[RichardKramer]

I presume you are referring to ADS-B - so they can be tracked.

Recently (like two days ago) RangeHawk 02 departed from Wallops headed back to Edwards AFB. It communicated with Giantkiller on its climb to Block 55 - 60 K then headed westbound to destination. While monitorable on ATC - it was not visible on any tracking sites.

Absolutely right; if you monitor the VHF/UHF aircraft bands you will hear military aircraft flying without showing on adsb.

 

[TerryPavlick]

I'm talking about data downlinks; the control uplinks to navigate as you said are in the 2GHz & above range.

Page 7 of the document posted shows both Earth to Space and Space to Earth links.....I would have to believe the data downlinks from a UAV would require higher bandwidth that GHZ freqs would offer

 

[RichardKramer]

Page 7 of the document posted shows both Earth to Space and Space to Earth links.....I would have to believe the data downlinks from a UAV would require higher bandwidth that GHZ freqs would offer

I don't know what the signal contains on those UHF freqs, but they have been noted when they are flying.
I'm not in the radio room, but on my 900MHz aircraft relay to the upstairs I'm hearing an aircraft saying they had a green laser flash at their10 o'clock position.

 

[prcguy]

A friend of mine in the satcom business had to support a military UAV training mission where the craft had Ku band satellite uplink capability to commercial satellites.

 

[TerryPavlick]

I don't know what the signal contains on those UHF freqs, but they have been noted when they are flying.
I'm not in the radio room, but on my 900MHz aircraft relay to the upstairs I'm hearing an aircraft saying they had a green laser flash at their10 o'clock position.

Yeah - there are pilot reports on ATC of them getting laser lights in the cockpit. We have had them along the coast here in NJ - of course it is a major approach route into JFK from the south along the coastline

 

[RichardKramer]

Yeah - there are pilot reports on ATC of them getting laser lights in the cockpit. We have had them along the coast here in NJ - of course it is a major approach route into JFK from the south along the coastline

Yea, we've had them here around my qth too. The PD responded but never caught anybody.

 

[APX8000]

They also hover.

USNAVY guys in control room..."Hey Bob, look at those two little PD drones with their cute little fishing net..." followed by loud laughter.

 

[TerryPavlick]

good example as to why people see drones....my wife called me out to living room as she saw this object with flashing lights.

I showed her this aircraft using Code 1200 but not ADS-B..

I could however see him on my list of aircraft squawking 1200 using Mode A

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history

globe.adsbexchange.com

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Wow! Over Oregon now....

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Birkeland current - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Hmmmmm.....the FBI calls this a clue if they are following the thread...lol

 

[rr60]

Many TOI’s up this way.

Who wants to crowd source the answer? I believe HEX
codes can be spoofed so I am out on the hunt. 12/15 19:51.

And it went silent. 274 kts is respectable, that is turbine power.

 

[rr60]

And we have a G5 (that may not be a G5) make the oddest flight path, over the golf course and the testing facility. Hmmmm.

 

[KC1UA]

With inclement weather moving through a lot of the northeast over the next few days, it will be interesting to see if these sightings diminish. In other words, would-be sighters can't see the planes that they think are drones due to the low ceiling and reduced visibility.

 

[howie38]

good example as to why people see drones....my wife called me out to living room as she saw this object with flashing lights.

I showed her this aircraft using Code 1200 but not ADS-B..

I could however see him on my list of aircraft squawking 1200 using Mode A

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history

globe.adsbexchange.com

View attachment 174504

 

[howie38]

New Jersey drone cluster sightings prompt call for ‘state of emergency’​

Thu 12 Dec 2024
Lawmaker called for a ‘limited state of emergency’, while 21 mayors asked governor to enact statewide action

New Jersey drone cluster sightings prompt call for ‘state of emergency’

Lawmaker called for a ‘limited state of emergency’, while 21 mayors asked governor to enact statewide action

www.theguardian.com

 

[rr60]

With inclement weather moving through a lot of the northeast over the next few days, it will be interesting to see if these sightings diminish. In other words, would-be sighters can't see the planes that they think are drones due to the low ceiling and reduced visibility.

I think you are seeing IFR flights in controlled B airspace “perhaps“. Look closely above at post #235.

 

[spongella]

Lived in NJ 37 years. Wondering what's so special about our state? Got nothing so far other than it's the most densely populated. Maybe that's it.