USS Kidd reported encounters with multiple unmanned aerial systems operating near the ship during July 2019 Navy operations.
In July 2019, a group of U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, primarily the USS Kidd, were swarmed by unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) approximately 100 miles off the coast of Los Angeles near San Clemente Island. The incidents occurred on multiple nights, including July 14, July 15, July 25, and July 30, involving other ships such as the USS Rafael Peralta, USS Russell, USS John Finn, and USS Paul Hamilton.
The drones exhibited capabilities exceeding standard commercial models, tracking ships at 16 knots, flying over 100 nautical miles, and hovering in low-visibility conditions for prolonged periods. Crews deployed SNOOPIE teams (photographic intelligence) and Mark 87 electro-optical sighting systems to document the contacts, which were described as flashing and occasionally tic-tac shaped. The USS Russell reportedly fired warning shots at the drones on July 20.
Despite a high-level investigation involving the Navy, Coast Guard, and FBI, the source and operator of the drones remain unknown. Adm. Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, confirmed in 2021 that the military had not positively identified the aircraft. The Navy ruled out that the drones were operated by U.S. forces, leaving the origin of the brazen incursions into sensitive military training ranges unresolved.
| Date: | 2019-07-14 |
| Location: | Pacific Ocean off Southern California |
| Country: | United States |
| Category: | Military |
| Credibility: | High / Officially Documented |