More than a dozen unidentified drones repeatedly penetrated the restricted airspace of a U.S. Air Force base housing a fleet of nuclear-capable bombers over the course of a week, and proved resistant to military efforts to bring them down, officials said.

Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, was infiltrated by “multiple unauthorized drones” between March 9 and March 15, a base spokesperson confirmed. Home to the B-52 Stratofortress bomber fleet — aircraft capable of delivering nuclear strikes “with worldwide precision,” according to the Air Force — Barksdale also serves as a key node in the Air Force Global Strike Command’s nuclear defense infrastructure, making the breaches a matter of acute national security concern.

The first intrusion triggered a shelter-in-place order and a terror alert on the installation. What followed was more alarming: subsequent incidents involved swarms of 12 to 15 long-range drones penetrating the no-fly zone in coordinated waves, according to an internal military briefing reviewed by ABC News. Security forces observed the devices operating over “sensitive areas of the base” on multiple occasions throughout the week, with activity recorded every day except March 13 and 14. Each flight lasted approximately four hours, with routes varying each time.

Most troublingly, the drones appeared to employ specialized signal technology that blocked the military’s jamming attempts, neutralizing one of the base’s primary tools for countering unauthorized aircraft. Officials noted that the devices seemed to be “testing security responses,” probing entry and exit points in ways designed to avoid detection.

The incursions forced the base to shut down its runway for takeoffs and landings, putting aircraft already airborne at risk.

Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense and ABC News contributor, said the sophistication and consistency of the intrusions pointed to deliberate, coordinated action. “Certainly, it seemed to be more than just your average drone enthusiast who just pushed it too far,” he said. “It looked like this was deliberate and intentional to see just how they would react.”

Flying drones over a military installation is a federal crime. Officials said the incidents “pose a significant threat to public safety and national security,” and an investigation is underway in coordination with federal and local law enforcement.

“We are working closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate these incursions,” a Barksdale spokesperson said. “The security of our installation and the safety of our people are top priorities, and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace.”

No group or individual has claimed responsibility. The origin and operator of the drones remain unknown.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)