CASPER, Wyo. – Flocks of drones flying at night have been spotted in rural areas in Colorado and surrounding states, including Wyoming.
While there is plenty of speculation, there are no hard answers to who or what is controlling them.
According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, a secretive Air Force program meant to “keep prying eyes away from nuclear missile silos” could be responsible for the sightings, which started last month.
The Gazette says the Air Force Global Strike Command based in Louisana confirms it conducts counterdrone exercises out of F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne.
“The command oversees underground Minuteman silos spread across northeastern Colorado, southeastern Wyoming and western Nebraska, the area where the drones have been spotted nightly the past two weeks,” said the Gazette, which says the Air Force won’t claim or deny ownership of the drones.
The Denver Post, however, reports that a spokesperson from F.E. Warren denied any involvement.
“We do not know where they are coming from, but we are cooperating with the FAA and the FBI and numerous police departments to find out what those sightings are,” Lt. Jon Carkhuff told the Post.
The Denver Post describes the drones as having 6-foot wingspans flying in clusters of six to 10 in grid formations over rural areas. Some reports say the drones could have as much as 8-foot wingspans, and are fixed-wing varieties.
The Post says several federal agencies, including the FAA, FBI and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations attended a task force meeting in Denver on Monday to hunt for a “command vehicle” that could be controlling the drones.
Drone experts interviewed by KDVR-TV in Denver who have spotted the drones believe the devices are from military or military contractors.
“These are very sophisticated, very high end, very specific and very targeted drones,” said Chris Swathwood, chair of the legislative affairs committee for the Colorado Aviation Business Association. “We have the consensus that it’s probably the military or a military contractor.”
Swathwood told KDVR that until someone comes forward, all anyone can do is speculate.