A number of small drones flew around a restricted area at Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant on two successive nights last September. Security forces watched, but were apparently helpless to act as the drones carried out their incursions before disappearing into the night. Details of the event gives some clues as to just what they were doing, but who sent them remains a mystery.
Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant is the largest in the US, producing over three gigawatts, 35% of Arizona's total power capacity. It supplies electricity to Phoenix and Tucson, as well as San Diego and Los Angeles. It is a critical piece of strategic infrastructure; during the 2003 Iraq War, National Guard troops were deployed to Palo Verde to defend against a possible terrorist threat. In normal times, as with other nuclear installations, it is protected by armed security guards however the armed guards, gates, fences and barriers were useless on these nights.
Local police from Maricopa County were dispatched to find the drone operators, but with no success.
Reported 30 July 2020 on Forbes.com: Read the entire incident article here.
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