Pentagon: Military can destroy drones over domestic US bases

WASHINGTON - 8 Aug 2017: The Pentagon has given more than 130 US military bases across the United States the green light to shoot down private and commercial drones that could endanger aviation safety or pose other threats, Alhurra news channel reported Tuesday.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said "The increase of commercial and private drones in the United States has raised our concerns with regards to the safety and security of our installations, aviation safety and the safety of people."

Flights of nearly all drones over 133 US military facilities were banned in April due to security concerns.

The FAA estimated the commercial drone fleet would grow from 42,000 at the end of 2016 to about 442,000 aircraft by 2021.

The FAA said there could be as many as 1.6 million commercial drones in use by 2021.