New York Must Lead on Drone Security
At 1:00 a.m. on a recent Saturday, a small drone dropped a package in the yard of Marcy Correctional Facility in the Mohawk Valley. When Corrections staff recovered it, they found two eight-inch, double-edged knives, a cell phone, and over 500 grams of illegal drugs. Because of wires protruding from the bundle, staff called the State Police Bomb Squad to ensure it wasn’t an improvised explosive device. Luckily no staff or incarcerated individuals were harmed. But “luck” is not a public safety strategy.
The incident at Marcy is a stark warning: the technology once reserved for high-end military operations is now being weaponized in our backyards. Our laws remain stuck on the ground, leaving state and local law enforcement without the clear legal authority to detect, identify, or neutralize even the most obvious aerial threats. Meanwhile, our adversaries are exploiting this vacuum to endanger our communities.
The threat permeates beyond the prison fence. Across the globe, we are seeing the “democratization of disruption.” In the war in Ukraine, low-cost drones have redefined the battlefield, and the current conflict with Iran has shown how even sophisticated air defenses can be strained by “swarm” tactics. Major airports have been forced to suspend flights due to unauthorized incursions, and criminal enterprises are increasingly using drones for cross-border smugglingof weapons and narcotics.
In order to meet this moment, the New York State Senate and Assembly must pass Governor Hochul’s comprehensive drone legislation. This legislation would clarify the circumstances under which law enforcement, with appropriate training and approved equipment, could detect and neutralize drone threats to protect New Yorkers’ safety.
Governor Hochul has made public safety her top priority, investing over $3 billion to protect New Yorkers. These historic investments have driven gun violence to record lows, with shootings down 60 percent since 2021. Furthermore, her administration’s $400 million commitment to combat the opioid crisis contributed to a 32 percent decline in drug overdose deaths, the lowest level since 2019.
But security is only half of the story. New York is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in “onshoring” the production of these technologies. We aren’t just a market for drones; we are the engine of their innovation. Central New York is already the global epicenter for this research, anchored by the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome and the SkyDome at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, which is the largest indoor drone testing facility in the United States.
Our vision is to expand the current 50-mile flight corridor between Syracuse and Rome into a statewide drone and counter-drone innovation ecosystem that includes Fort Drum and the Hudson Valley. We can test “drone dominance” strategies that protect our troops abroad and our citizens at home, while drawing more research and manufacturing jobs to New York.
New York is home to world-class aerospace, defense and counter-drone companies. By passing this bill, we signal to these companies and the broader venture capital world that New York is the premier place to build, test, and deploy drones and counter-drone systems.
The Marcy incident was a wake-up call, but the wars in Europe and the Middle East are blaring alarm bells. We have the technology, the industry leaders, and the partnerships to lead the world. It is time to give our agencies the tools they need to protect New Yorkers and secure our place as the global leader in the future of flight.
Colin Ahern, Director of Security and Intelligence for New York State
