At a high-powered Army conference, a private company showcased a one-of-a-kind aircraft — and reportedly claimed responsibility for last year’s drone and “UFO” stir in New Jersey, a source told The Post.
During the Army’s UAS and Launched Effects Summit at Fort Rucker in August, an unnamed contractor conducted a live demonstration of a manned aerial vehicle that impressed attendees with its unusual design and unconventional flight patterns, according to someone present at the event.
“You remember that big UFO scare in New Jersey last year? That was us,” an employee of the contractor reportedly told a small group after the demonstration. The company allegedly flew over New Jersey in November 2024 to “test their capabilities,” the employee said, adding they were not required to make their activity public due to a private government contract.
Video obtained by The Post shows the roughly 20-foot, four-winged aircraft zipping just above the tree line, capturing the attention of dozens of soldiers on the ground.
“I thought it was the military testing something on the other side of the base,” the source, a military veteran and drone expert, said of their first impression at Fort Rucker on Aug. 12. “It felt like a UFO because it defies what you expect to see,” they added, describing an “uncanny valley” sensation as the craft silently maneuvered through the air.
“When it turned, you almost completely lose sight of it,” the source said, describing the roughly 30-minute demonstration within the controlled airspace of Fort Rucker. “That’s likely why people reported seeing things disappear in the sky.” All summit attendees were cleared by Fort Rucker brass, which enforced strict participation rules, including banning any drone or craft containing Chinese-made parts.
“It would definitely have to be cleared,” the source added. “Somebody was 100% in charge of coordinating that.”
Fort Rucker, headquarters of the Army’s Aviation Branch, did not respond to requests for comment.
The wave of reported drone sightings in New Jersey began on Nov. 13, 2024, over Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and spread across the state through early December. President Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration announced in January that many of the mysterious sightings were actually hobbyists, recreational pilots, and private individuals.
The Army declined to comment, citing the federal government shutdown.