Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a massive drone assault deep inside Russia, has exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. military base security, especially as Chinese entities continue purchasing land near sensitive installations.
At a Glance
- Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb used 117 drones to strike five Russian airbases, destroying or damaging over 40 aircraft.
- The Fufeng Group, a Chinese company, purchased 370 acres near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, raising national security concerns.
- Florida enacted a law banning entities from certain countries, including China, from purchasing land near military installations.
- North Dakota and other states have introduced legislation to restrict foreign ownership of farmland near sensitive sites.
- The U.S. Senate is considering the PASS Act to prevent adversarial nations from acquiring land near critical infrastructure.
Operation Spiderweb: A Wake-Up Call
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, deploying 117 drones to strike five Russian airbases, including Belaya and Olenya. The coordinated attack destroyed or damaged over 40 aircraft, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes, severely degrading Russia’s long-range strike capacity.
This campaign showcased how low-cost drones can penetrate air defenses and inflict serious damage on hardened targets, prompting U.S. defense officials to reevaluate vulnerabilities at domestic bases. Analysts warn that American installations could be susceptible to similar tactics, particularly where foreign-owned land offers line-of-sight access or staging potential (Washington Post).
Watch a report: Ukraine’s Drone Strike on Russian Airbases.
Foreign Land Purchases Near U.S. Bases
In 2021, China’s Fufeng Group bought 370 acres of land just 12 miles from Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota—home to sensitive drone and ISR operations. Though initially pitched as a corn milling plant, the deal drew intense backlash from local and national leaders citing security concerns.
The Grand Forks case is part of a broader pattern of Chinese-linked purchases of farmland and real estate near U.S. military installations, fueling bipartisan alarm about surveillance and sabotage risks.
Legislative Responses
Florida responded swiftly, enacting Senate Bill 264, which bans foreign entities from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and others from owning land near military or critical infrastructure. North Dakota followed with its own state-level restrictions, citing the Fufeng case as a cautionary example.
Meanwhile, Congress is weighing the PASS Act, a federal bill that would empower the U.S. Department of Agriculture to block land deals near military facilities by entities linked to adversarial governments. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pressing for its passage, citing the urgent need to secure national territory from economic encroachment.
With drone warfare evolving rapidly and strategic land acquisitions continuing unabated, U.S. security experts say legislative action can’t wait. As Ukraine’s success against Russian infrastructure demonstrates, the battleground of the future may be as close as the field next door.
