NJ receives new technology to identify mysterious drones

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday that the state has received three new drone detection systems from the federal government that are being deployed near sensitive infrastructure.

“These are as sophisticated as they get, and I’m thankful for the fact that they’re finally in New Jersey,” said Gov. Murphy.

Looking long term, Gov. Murphy wants more drone legislation at both the state and federal levels.

“We have the technology, that’s for sure,” said Gov. Murphy. “But who’s got the authority? Where is the line between the feds and the states?”

Gov. Murphy reported little to no evidence of suspicious activity at the moment and said many cellphone videos show small planes, not drones.

Professional drone pilot Michael B. said small planes and drones can appear nearly identical. One way to differentiate is by size. “You look up and you say, oh, that’s a plane but it’s too low to be a plane,” said Michael. “It would be a lot bigger at that height.”

He said the way they maneuver turns is also different. “One will be traveling straight and then it can just make a 45-degree turn,” said Michael B. “Airplanes don’t do that.”

Michael said he had an unusual experience when he tried to approach a mysterious drone with one of his professional drones.

“A quarter mile out or so, my drone stops,” said Michael. “I look at my controls. [The drone] spins. Dead battery. Goes to the ground. I actually had to go drive out and find it. The other drones were still in the air. So this affected my drone somehow but not that drone.”

When he tried to capture video of a drone flying near an airport, he said he could not even launch his own drone.

“The light just flashes and says 'no takeoff,'" said Michael. “When our drone goes up, it gets a clearance. Someone, somewhere knows my drone is in the air and where it is.”