Drone tracking systems implemented to monitor New Jersey skies

Gov. Phil Murphy spoke at length about three high-powered drone tracking and identifying systems that are now in place monitoring the New Jersey skies.

Jim Murdoch

Dec 16, 2024, 10:09 PM

Updated 5 days ago

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Federal help has arrived to help track down who is responsible for the drones over New Jersey.
On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy spoke at length about three high-powered drone tracking and identifying systems that are now in place monitoring the New Jersey skies.
The governor also called for state police to be given more power to monitor our airspace for future threats.
"These are as sophisticated as they get and I'm thankful for the fact they are finally in New Jersey. To say we were pounding away to get them here would be an understatement," said Gov. Murphy.
"There may be suspicious activity as we stand here today but there is little to no evidence of that right now. And that's based on these three systems and I think we need to give this more time," he said.
Gov. Murphy said he watched the drone spotting technology in action Sunday night - at NJSP headquarters and at Naval Weapons Station Earle. He says activity in the skies has decreased, with 12 credible sightings Saturday night and just one last night.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers criticized the governor's response - calling it delayed - and not aggressive enough.
"I think it speaks volume that he calls a press conference for the media but he doesn't speak to his own legislative leaders," said 24th District Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia.
"These three federal super detectors you're telling me about - where were they a week ago? Everything is so slow. Again, he's the governor of the state of New Jersey. Just get it done. Follow one drone back to where it lands and figure out who was in charge of that thing and we will have all the answers we need," said 26th District Assemblyman Brian Bergen.
The governor said long-term changes are needed and compared the current drone sightings to the 9/11 terror attacks, saying they were both "wake-up calls" but in this case, "benign."
Gov. Murphy ended his comments by once again calling for changes to federal regulations to open up state and local resources to help monitor the skies.