Something strange is happening in the skies over the U.S. Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in northern New Jersey. Reports have surfaced about mysterious drones flying over the military base and surrounding areas, leaving locals and authorities wondering what’s going on. The Army is working with local, state, and federal agencies to investigate the strange drone activity, which has sparked concern among security officials.

What’s Picatinny Arsenal?
Picatinny Arsenal is an important U.S. Army facility, home to some of the country’s top armament research organizations. These groups are responsible for developing weapons and ammunition for the military. So, when reports of unusual drone activity surfaced nearby, it raised a lot of eyebrows. Was someone spying on this sensitive location, or was it just a harmless mistake?
The Drone Sightings
On the evening of November 18, 2024, multiple social media posts reported sightings of drones flying over the Picatinny Arsenal and nearby parts of Morris County. Some claimed the drones were seen flying from Somerset County to northern New Jersey and back. A few people even shared videos showing mysterious lights in the sky, though the quality was too poor to tell for sure if they were actually drones.
Large Sized Drones flying around in unauthorized areas around New Jersey, including over Picatinny Arsenal, which is a Military Base, last night November 18th, being followed by BlackHawk Helicopters. New Jersey residents speak up 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/sonoqZyLY5
— BeautyMrk (@BeautyMrked) November 19, 2024
One tweet mentioned that drones were spotted flying near Morris Township and Mendham, and New Jersey State Police helicopters were seen tracking them. Local police were also warned to keep an eye out for more sightings. The Army responded by saying they had no involvement in any drone operations that night, and they are working with several agencies to get to the bottom of it.
Unusual activity reported over Morris County,NJ: multiple large drones spotted flying from the Somerset County border northward and back. Law enforcement has been advised to notify their communications centers of any sightings. Photo taken in Morristown (📸 Josh Wolfson) pic.twitter.com/pSqe6KnwQj
— N. Jerzy Fire Alert (@NJerzyFireAlert) November 19, 2024
Could These Drones Be a Security Threat?
What’s raising even more questions is the fact that this wasn’t the first time such strange drone activity has been reported near military installations. In December 2023, drones were spotted flying over Langley Air Force Base, which was covered extensively in the media. Now, Picatinny Arsenal is facing similar incidents, and the Army is taking them seriously. With drones becoming more common in conflicts around the world, military bases are on high alert.
Upwards of a Dozen Large Drones have been spotted tonight over Morris County in Northern New Jersey, with them being tracked by Law Enforcement and Fire Officials. A AW139 Helicopter with the New Jersey State Police was tracking the Drones to the North of Dover, but has since… pic.twitter.com/A3lJWOosbx
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 19, 2024
The U.S. Army has made it clear that it is illegal to fly drones over military bases without permission, and they are taking all reports seriously. The Army spokesman, Timothy Rider, urged the public to stay away from the base and not to fly drones in the area.
What Are Drones Doing Around the Area?
In a strange twist, about 25 miles away from Picatinny Arsenal, drones are being used to help fight a massive forest fire on the New Jersey-New York border. These drones are being used by New York State Police to monitor the fire and help guide rescue teams. However, authorities have made it clear that these drones are not the same ones seen near the Army base. They are not connected to the reported sightings.

So, what are the drones near Picatinny Arsenal? Are they part of an intentional operation, or are they just a random coincidence? It’s still unclear, and authorities are investigating the matter carefully.
What’s Next?
As of now, it’s still a mystery. Authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation, but many questions remain. Were these drones being flown by someone trying to spy on the military base, or was it a case of people simply flying their drones in the wrong place? The Army is now working with federal and state agencies to gather more information and ensure that no security threat is posed.
This incident is just one example of a growing problem. Drones are being spotted more and more around sensitive locations, and authorities are beginning to take them much more seriously. With the increasing number of drone intrusions happening both at home and abroad, military and security officials are now racing to find ways to identify and stop drones from causing harm.
The mystery continues, but one thing is clear: the authorities are taking these reports very seriously, and we may learn more in the coming days. Stay tuned as we follow this story.