April 23, 2014🇺🇸Military Encounter
Radar EvidenceMilitary BaseClose Encounter

Virginia Beach: F/A-18F detects multiple UADs

An F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-11 encountered several unidentified aerial devices over W-72 warning area. Crew confirmed stationary objects via radar and ATFLIR, with fast-movers passing visually.

Date
April 23, 2014
Location
Virginia Beach, Virginia🇺🇸
Type
Military Encounter
Country
🇺🇸 United States
Map

Background

Event Details On April 23, 2014, at 10:51 p.m., a crew from Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11), known as the Red Rippers, flew an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Operating in the W-72 warning area, they first spotted two objects on radar: one at 12,000 feet and another at 15,000 feet, both hovering or nearly still.

Observations and Evidence The pilots verified these via the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) system. During approach to the initial pair, two additional objects sped through the ATFLIR view at high velocity but evaded radar detection. No further identification occurred.

Context and Significance This military encounter highlights repeated incursions by unidentified objects in restricted airspace, reported in pilot logs and analyzed by experts like Tyler Rogoway and Joseph Trevithick. It underscores sensor capabilities and the challenges of tracking fast, non-radar-reflective phenomena, contributing to broader UAP discussions.

Connections