Unauthorized Drones Repeatedly Detected Over Barksdale B‑52 Nuclear‑Capable Bomber Base

Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home to B‑52 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, says it detected multiple unauthorized drones in its airspace during the week of March 9, 2026, and is working with federal and local law enforcement to investigate. A base spokesperson told Fox News that flying drones over a military installation is both a safety issue and a federal crime, and emphasized that security of the base and personnel remains a top priority. The incidents coincided with a March 9 shelter‑in‑place order at the base that was later lifted, while drone sightings reportedly continued through the week amid heightened security at U.S. Air Force installations during the ongoing Iran war. Former Pentagon official Mick Mulroy told ABC the activity did not appear to be from a hobbyist and looked like a deliberate probe to see how the base would react, calling it 'very troubling.' The case underscores growing concern inside the military and among security analysts about small drones being used to test or surveil critical U.S. nuclear and bomber infrastructure, a threat that has been widely discussed on social media but rarely confirmed on the record by base officials.