The Ghost Fleet: The Night Drones Swarmed a Nuclear Plant and Uncovered America’s Blind Spot

The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station stands as a sentinel in the vast, quiet expanse of the Sonoran Desert. Located about 45 miles west of downtown Phoenix, this is no ordinary power plant; it is the largest by net generation in the United States, a critical energy source that provides electricity to nearly four million people across Arizona, California, and New Mexico. The facility's security is a layered and intricate affair, designed to guard against a range of known threats. Yet, on the night of September 29, 2019, a new, unforeseen threat emerged from the darkening desert sky.