The Pentagon has confirmed news reports of unidentified drones swarming the airspace at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, last year.

The Hampton base experienced incursions of unauthorized unmanned aerial systems in December, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said.

“The number of those UAS incursions did fluctuate on any given day, but they didn’t appear to exhibit any hostile intent,” Singh said during the news briefing. “It’s something that we have kept our eye on, but I just don’t have more to provide on that.”

Joint Base Langley-Eustis is home to the Air Force’s Air Combat Command.

The spokesperson’s comments came after previous reporting from The Wall Street Journal that detailed how, from Dec. 6-23, a fleet of up to a dozen drones swarmed the airspace above Langley and other Hampton locations such as Gosnold’s Hope Park, Buckroe Beach and Grandview Nature Preserve. According to the article, the drones also flew south across the Chesapeake Bay toward Norfolk.

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When asked why the military didn’t shoot down the drones, Singh said the base commander had the authority to do so if they were a threat to the base.

“All I can tell you is that the Air Force base did experience a number of incursions and that we have been looking into it,” Singh said. “And if I have more to share, I certainly will.”

An F-22 stealth fighter from Langley’s 1st Fighter Wing shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon in February 2023.

According to the Wall Street Journal article, drones have appeared over other military and other government sites in recent years. The military is seeking ways to counter the drones, with Langley seeking to install anti-drone netting around its stealth fighter planes, according to a report from The War Zone defense news outlet.

Spokespersons for Langley and Naval Station Norfolk did not immediately answer questions about the drones.

From the Archives: Scenes from Church Hill

In February 1965, this section of East Broad Street was suggested to be acquired by the city for a new elementary school. The 20-year Richmond master plan from November 1964 recommended removing nine elementary schools and building eight new ones, including one on this site. The plan was subject to change – and indeed, these houses are still standing today at Broad and North 31st streets.

In October 1954, Hurricane Hazel swept through Richmond and left its mark on the old Trinity Methodist Church on Church Hill. The steeple of the church, which by then was occupied by New Light Baptist Church, lost its top 25 feet. Despite pre-storm efforts to raise funds to restore the nearly 90-year-old spire, the hurricane damage was insurmountable, and the entire steeple was removed in 1955.

In January 1958, discussions were underway to raze this stretch of East Broad Street on Church Hill, opposite St. John's Episcopal Church, to create Patrick Henry Park. The Historic Richmond Foundation worked to secure state funding, which was supplemented with a bequest from the late Mayor J. Fulmer Bright. The park opened in the early 1960s.

This April 1958 image shows a house at 25th and East Grace streets on Church Hill, with St. John’s Church in the background. The Historic Richmond Foundation was intent on redeveloping Church Hill, and volunteers were preparing to conduct tours of the historic area.

In April 1983, cyclists raced up Church Hill on 24th Street in Richmond during the Tour of America. Supporters hoped the three-day competition would mimic the Tour de France in America, but the race was canceled the following year because of a lack of sponsorship funding.

In December 1973, a man and his dog walked in snow-covered Jefferson Park in the Union Hill neighborhood of Richmond near Church Hill.

In June 1955, workers had just finished taking down the spire at the old Trinity Methodist Church on Church Hill in Richmond. The previous October, Hurricane Hazel damaged it beyond repair. The steeple of the church, which by then was occupied by New Light Baptist Church, had lost its top 25 feet in the storm.

In June 1941, Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech was re-enacted at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741.

In September 1941, amid a nationwide gas shortage, Harry J. Donati (left) and Joseph G. Robben drove their horse-drawn carriage down 25th Street in Church Hill in Richmond.

In July 1967, members of the Nolde family – Henry (from left), George, Carl and Arthur – watched bread roll off the assembly line at the Nolde Bros. Bakery in Church Hill in Richmond. Their relatives started a small baking operation in the 1890s, and by 1950, three area Nolde plants produced almost a million loaves per week to be sold nationally. Nolde closed in 1977.

In September 1963, members of the Historic Richmond Foundation examined homes in the 2300 block of East Broad Street. The Church Hill homes, known as Carrington Row, were in the early stages of restoration by the foundation.

In December 1988, a candlelight walk on Church Hill in Richmond was a highlight of the neighborhood’s annual weekend Christmas Festival. Other seasonal events around the city included a holiday musical at the Byrd Theatre and “Nutcracker” performances by the Richmond Ballet.

In December 1985, special effects engineer Dick Johnson sprayed fake snow around St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond, which was serving as a set for the CBS miniseries “Dream West.” The “snow” was a combination of soap, water and air. The miniseries focused on 19th-century American adventurer John Charles Fremont, who was portrayed by Richard Chamberlain.

In April 1969, Alden Aaroe broadcasted from WRVA’s radio studio on Church Hill in Richmond. The one-story building, designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, had opened a year earlier and welcomed more than 17,000 people on tours. It was made of concrete and featured what Johnson called “punched holes” for windows – rounded-corner rectangles that offered views of the Shockoe area and downtown.

In January 1958, this horse and wagon raced through the streets of Church Hill in Richmond before stopping after hitting a car. Horse owner Chester C. Sully said he was making a coal delivery when the horse got startled by a noise and took off on a five-minute gallop, which ended around Jefferson Avenue and 23rd Street, where the wagon broke the car’s windshield and left rear window.

The Morris Cottage at 2500 E. Grace St. was purchased and given to the Historic Richmond Foundation for restoration.

Hilary Baker house at 2302 East Grace St. in Church Hill. Major restoration was done at the time by the William Byrd Branch, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Workmen repair Harwood House on Church Hill. Restoration of old home is nearly complete.

In July 1953, the Richmond Health Department highlighted improvements made in a block of Church Hill bounded by Grace, Broad, 23rd and 24th streets – including a spruced-up alleyway with new fencing. The Libby Hill Civic Association was set to lead rehabilitation and beautification for 14 more blocks in the area, with improvements such as removal of old sheds, fresh exterior painting and interior upgrades to some houses in one of the city’s oldest sections.