Security Scandal: Chinese Drone Hovers Over US Nuclear-Powered Supercarrier In Japan 

A major security scandal is developing at Japan’s Yokosuka Naval Base, where drone footage was recently filmed above an American nuclear-powered supercarrier without any activated anti-drone systems to intercept hostile unmanned aerial vehicles. This comes as loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze drones, are the hottest weapon on the modern battlefield in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

X account “这是我小号4”, translated in English from Chinese as “This is my trumpet number 4,” uploaded aerial videos and images of Yokosuka Naval Base. Some of the footage was directly over the USS Ronald Reagan. 

The X account wrote in English, “For anyone who thinks it’s fake….” They attached a screenshot of the drone’s flight path of the naval yard on a map to the post. 

For anyone who thinks it’s fake pic.twitter.com/PdfwHAnwqj

— 这是我小号4 (@Xiao_Hao_4) April 2, 2024

The latest data from intel research firm Strategic Forecasting shows USS Ronald Reagan was recently moored at Yokosuka Naval Base. Footage from the drone was taken in early April. 

The account posted additional images of the naval yard and US warships. 

pic.twitter.com/JOCfTFMI68

— 这是我小号4 (@Xiao_Hao_4) May 8, 2024

Where are the anti-drone systems to guard against this type of aerial security breach? 

pic.twitter.com/5Qx1CLQbIn

— 这是我小号4 (@Xiao_Hao_4) April 4, 2024

In English again, the account said, “It took a month for the Japanese army to just realize…” The person was referring to a news story by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, also known as NHK, covering his activity on social media about posting drone videos of US and Japanese warships. 

It took a month for the Japanese army to just realize… https://t.co/TH6mWxQZV8

— 这是我小号4 (@Xiao_Hao_4) May 8, 2024

NHK cited Ministry of Defense officials who said drone videos were “likely genuine.” Other sources we spoke with confirmed the videos are likely real and noted the possibility that this could’ve been a Chinese-made DJI drone. 

Why didn’t the US and or Japan activate electromagnetic counter-measures against the drone?

The next question: Did a Chinese spy – pilot this drone?