U.S. Air Force Bases Face Emerging Drone Threat, Experts Warn
U.S. Air Force installations across the homeland, despite their robust physical security, are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated drone attacks, according to retired Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, former commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Speaking on July 30, Gen. VanHerck highlighted that U.S. bases could experience assaults similar in nature to a high-impact, hypothetical drone strike scenario on strategic bomber bases within Russia, which serves as a critical case study for defense planners.
Gen. VanHerck’s concerns are underscored by a detailed hypothetical scenario, referred to by experts as “Operation Spiderweb.” This simulation, developed for strategic analysis, envisions an adversary covertly deploying 18-wheeler trucks into enemy territory. From these mobile platforms, 117 quadcopters, laden with explosives, are launched simultaneously at multiple strategic bomber bases. In this theoretical scenario, the coordinated attack results in the destruction of approximately 40 bombers and early warning aircraft, incurring an estimated $7 billion in damages to defense infrastructure.
“All of that could occur right here, right here in the United States of America,” VanHerck stated during a virtual event hosted by AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. He emphasized that this is not a fundamentally new threat but rather a novel application of existing technology, driven by “innovators who came up with a new concept of operations and employed it, and that threat exists here today.”
VanHerck’s comments coincided with the release of a new policy paper from the Mitchell Institute, which advocates for a paradigm shift in the U.S. Air Force’s approach to base defense against drone threats. The paper recommends moving beyond traditional localized defenses to adopt a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy.
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, the report’s author and a senior fellow at Mitchell, characterized the “Operation Spiderweb” scenario as akin to a “Hollywood-style stunt ‘out of a Jason Bourne movie.'” However, he underscored its stark realism and profound implications. “It really showed the world how unpredictable and how flexible this new capability of small UAVs can be,” Cantwell explained, adding that “Operation Spiderweb showed that there could be an avenue of attack to a base, to a vital infrastructure, from any avenue of attack with a little more creativity.”
In his detailed paper, Cantwell proposes that the Air Force must evolve its current “point defense” methodology, which primarily focuses on protecting specific assets, into a more expansive and proactive strategy. This includes an expanded network of airborne early-warning sensors to detect threats at greater distances and an offensive strike plan designed to neutralize adversary drone manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, the strategy calls for establishing a new, multi-level protective posture to enable air base personnel to adapt swiftly to fluctuating drone threat levels.
While agreeing with Cantwell’s proposed strategic framework, Gen. VanHerck emphasized the critical need for additional initiatives specifically tailored to protect bases within the U.S. homeland. He highlighted the unique challenges posed by domestic threats.
“If an Operation Spiderweb [scenario] was developed in the central part of the country here, and then projected out to key critical infrastructure or locations, it would require local citizens potentially knowing what they’re looking at, local law enforcement or state law enforcement agencies contacting federal, and a broad array of law enforcement and potentially military putting the whole picture together with the intel community to understand what’s going on,” VanHerck articulated. He cautioned, “We’re not there from a policy and organization standpoint yet, and most people don’t think about or understand that threat is here today and could present itself right away within our homeland.”
The U.S. Air Force has already experienced firsthand the ease with which unidentified drones can breach secure perimeters. In late December 2023, unexplained drone incursions were reported over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, persisting for several days. Similar incidents subsequently occurred at bases in Ohio, Utah, and the United Kingdom, drawing significant scrutiny from lawmakers who questioned the preparedness of base commanders to track, identify, and neutralize such aerial threats.
In response to these challenges and legislative pressures, the Air Force has proactively implemented several key reforms. In April 2025, it published new doctrine on the “Point Defense of Air Bases,” signaling a more active role for the service in air defense—a mission historically more associated with the Army. This new doctrine grants air base commanders greater autonomy to identify threats and “secure air operations using organic PD capabilities.” Concurrently, the Air Force established the Point Defense Task Force and the Point Defense Battle Lab, dedicated to developing and evaluating new training protocols, equipment, and tactics for this evolving mission.
Further enhancing its capabilities, the service has created the first “point defense flights”—specialized units of Airmen rigorously trained for rapid deployment to regions such as the Pacific and other strategic hotspots, where they would be tasked with defending remote air bases from drone attacks. For a long-term strategic solution, the Air Force is developing a new job specialty code for base defense, marking the initial step in establishing a dedicated career field for this critical mission.
Air Force Col. Cody Moore, who recently concluded his command of the Point Defense Task Force under Air Combat Command, acknowledges the significant threats confronting U.S. air bases but expresses confidence in the service’s enhanced readiness. “You’ve got to put all those pieces of the puzzle together,” Moore remarked, describing the intensive training Airmen receive to “identify the various levels of threat, and then also the appropriate level of force to use.”
Moore emphasized the complex, multi-agency coordination required for effective defense. “We are also providing leadership training to those base commanders to understand their specific authorities, how they should work with local law enforcement because outside of the gate, they’re a big piece of that too, and then also how to communicate that within the Air Force and with NORAD and NORTHCOM and all of the other civilian agencies that are a part of this,” he explained. “That’s what makes this so complicated and dense—you need all of those pieces to be successful.”
Why This Matters
The growing threat of sophisticated drone attacks on military installations and critical infrastructure has profound implications that extend far beyond national security circles.
- National Security and Defense Posture:The ability of adversaries to launch low-cost, high-impact drone attacks directly challenges traditional air superiority and defense doctrines. If key military assets, such as strategic bombers or early warning aircraft, can be neutralized on the ground, it significantly degrades a nation’s ability to project power and respond to crises, potentially altering geopolitical balances. The U.S. military’s response to this threat will redefine its operational readiness and strategic capabilities.
- Economic Impact:The financial cost of such attacks, exemplified by the hypothetical $7 billion in damages from “Operation Spiderweb,” is substantial. Beyond immediate destruction, there are enormous costs associated with developing, procuring, and deploying new counter-drone technologies, updating defense strategies, and rebuilding damaged infrastructure. This diverts resources from other essential areas and can strain national budgets.
- Civilian Safety and Critical Infrastructure:The concern articulated by Gen. VanHerck extends beyond military bases to civilian critical infrastructure—including power grids, transportation hubs, communication networks, and industrial facilities. Such widespread vulnerabilities could lead to significant economic disruption, societal panic, and potential civilian casualties, necessitating a re-evaluation of homeland security frameworks.
- Evolving Nature of Warfare:The drone threat symbolizes a fundamental shift in modern warfare, moving towards asymmetrical and innovative tactics that leverage readily available, relatively inexpensive technology against high-value targets. This demands continuous adaptation, not just in military technology but also in doctrine, training, and intelligence gathering, to stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats.
- Inter-agency Cooperation and Public Awareness:Effective defense against diffuse drone threats requires unprecedented levels of cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, military commands, and even an informed citizenry. Policy and organizational gaps in this coordination could leave significant vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach to homeland defense. Public awareness of potential threats and reporting mechanisms will become increasingly vital.