Australian broadcaster ABC reported that unidentified drones breached restricted airspace over Brigade Williamstown for the second time in a month, where the majority of F-35A fighter jets are based.
New South Wales police said the incident occurred in early August, and that they are working with the Australian Defence Force and other agencies to determine who the drones belong to and who their operators are.
Michael Shoebridge, director of Strategic Analysis Australia, described the repeated drone incursions into the base's airspace as an indication of serious security problems at military installations.
He told the network that the incident "is deeply concerning, because it shows that the Ministry of Defense is unable to protect its bases." Shoebridge added that expensive fighter jets remain vulnerable within air bases in the absence of effective means to counter drones.
The incident follows a similar one in July, when several unidentified drones were spotted over several days in the vicinity of the airbase and the adjacent Newcastle airport.
Located about 30 kilometers north of Newcastle, Williamtown Air Base is the main training base for Australian fighter pilots and also hosts the bulk of Australia’s fleet of American F-35A fifth-generation fighters.
There are several areas around the base where aircraft are prohibited from flying, and the fine for violating these restrictions is up to 18,200 Australian dollars, or about 13,000 US dollars.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described drones as a serious and rapidly evolving security challenge, noting that the Australian military has begun acquiring electronic warfare capabilities against drones, including systems to detect and jam them under Project LAND 156. Investigations into the two incidents are still ongoing.
