Numerous drones have been spotted over the large US Air Force base in Barksdale, Louisiana, which is home to nuclear-capable B-52 bombers.
Access to the base was restricted for security reasons, The Independent reports.
The air force base issued a warning on March 9 after reports of an “unmanned aerial system“ operating over the base.
ABC News reported the discovery of drones over the base on March 20. Citing a classified briefing from March 15, the network said the drones flew in waves; they circled the base, possibly trying to “avoid detection by operators“ and to “test security measures“.
“From March 9 to 15, 2026, BAFB security forces observed several waves of 12-15 drones operating over sensitive areas of the facility, including the airfield“, the document said.
The drones displayed signal signatures unusual for commercial models, had long-range communication channels, and were resistant to jamming, the channel explained. “After reaching several points on the base, the drones dispersed over its key facilities“, the briefing noted.
The document concluded that the drones detected over the base were not routine, but were apparently custom-made and required “advanced expertise“ in transmitting signals. The briefing said the raids lasted approximately four hours and no drones were detected on March 13-14.
Captain Hunter Reiningen of the 2nd Bombardment Wing confirmed to ABC News that drone overflights occurred during the week of March 9. "Flying a drone over a military installation is not only a security issue, but also a crime under federal law. We are working closely with federal and local law enforcement to investigate these intrusions. The safety of our personnel is our top priority and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace," he said.
Barksdale is the second largest air base in the U.S. Air Force, home to more than 40 B-52 bombers. The base is home to approximately 15,000 people, including active-duty military personnel, reservists, military family members and civilians.
Earlier, on March 19, unidentified drones were also spotted over Fort Leslie McNair military base in Washington, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth live, The Washington Post reported, citing three sources. According to two of them, the origin of the drones remains unclear.
A senior US administration source told the newspaper that amid the military conflict with Iran, the military is monitoring potential threats more closely. Following the incident, security at the military base was tightened and a meeting was held at the White House to discuss further action.
In October 2025, The Atlantic reported that senior US officials, including Hegseth and Rubio, were being relocated to military bases. The publication said the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was the pretext for the move.