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FAA Expands Drone Detection Testing in New Jersey Following Last Year’s Sightings

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlights 'radical transparency' as Cape May hosts two-week trial of advanced airspace monitoring technologies.

The Federal Aviation Administration is testing systems to detect drones after a series of unexplained drone sightings in New Jersey last year raised alarm. The testing, over a two-week period in the community of Cape May includes about 100 off-the-shelf drones ranging in size from smaller than a pound up to large craft weighing nearly 1,320 pounds, the FAA said in a statement. Equipment being tested by the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research includes Remote ID, Acoustic Array and X-Band radar.
Sean Duffy, US secretary of transportation, during a swearing-in ceremony in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. Duffy tackled his first road rules challenge within hours of taking the helm of the Transportation Department, ordering a rewrite Tuesday night of stringent federal fuel economy rules for cars that were enacted by former President Joe Biden. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty)
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Overview

  • The FAA has launched a two-week drone detection testing initiative in Cape May, New Jersey, running from April 14 to April 25, 2025.
  • The tests involve operating several large drones and over 100 commercial off-the-shelf drones, utilizing technologies like Remote ID, Acoustic Array, and X-Band radar.
  • Officials clarified that last year's unexplained drone sightings in the region were a mix of lawful drone operations, hobbyist activity, and misidentified objects, such as stars or other aircraft.
  • This initiative builds on earlier off-airport drone detection tests in Alaska, with additional testing planned for New Mexico, North Dakota, and Mississippi later this year.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the administration's commitment to transparency, contrasting it with what he described as a lack of clarity during previous administrations.