A security response was initiated at Naval Support Activity Naples after base personnel discovered an unidentified small drone at the facility’s Support Site. Security forces established temporary precautionary perimeters while law enforcement personnel evaluated whether the craft carried explosive hazards. A concurrent shelter-in-place advisory was issued at the nearby Capodichino location before access gates were restored to routine operations.
Subsequent explosive ordnance disposal assessments by Italian law enforcement confirmed that the unmanned aircraft contained no explosive materials or detonation components, allowing perimeter restrictions to be lifted, as reported by Stars and Stripes. Investigators seized the platform to determine its manufacturer, payload capabilities—such as optical or surveillance equipment—and flight trajectory. The installation serves as the headquarters for U.S. Sixth Fleet, with the Support Site housing administrative services, medical infrastructure, and residential housing.
The incident occurs alongside wider monitoring of unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicle incursions across military installations in Europe and North America. Recent reported sightings include drone swarms over facilities in Louisiana and Washington, D.C., as well as sightings near German defense infrastructure. Officials indicated there is no current evidence connecting the device found in Naples to a broader coordinated campaign.
