USS Russell/Paul Hamilton: UAS swarm encounter off San Diego
During July 2019, U.S. Navy destroyers USS Russell and USS Paul Hamilton encountered coordinated swarms of unidentified aerial systems while operating off the California coast. Multiple observations of unknown drones tracking the vessels were recorded in official deck logs.
Background
In July 2019, naval vessels operating near San Diego reported sustained encounters with unidentified aerial systems displaying swarm behavior. The destroyers USS Russell and USS Paul Hamilton documented multiple incidents involving unknown drones performing coordinated maneuvers in close proximity to the ships. These encounters occurred within a broader context of increased military observations of anomalous aerial phenomena in restricted airspace. The incidents were initially recorded in classified ship logs and later became subjects of public records requests. Witnesses described objects exhibiting flight characteristics beyond typical commercial drone capabilities, with the swarm maintaining formation during nighttime operations.