Buzz
Leading military powers like the United States, China, and Russia serve a dual purpose in today's world: they display their strength through visible demonstrations of weaponry and manpower, while also operating in secrecy to gather intelligence and advance technological developments. As the world becomes more interconnected, the public's ability to observe global events has increased.
It seems that there’s no place left for military intelligence projects to stay hidden. Consider Area 51, for instance. The government only confirmed its existence a few years ago, but people around the world had already been aware of it long before that. And let’s not forget the time when Will Smith and Bill Pullman used it to battle aliens. But, we digress…
On a more serious note, many so-called “secret” military facilities and bases aren’t as covert as we might think. Governments may deny their existence or obscure reports about what occurs at these locations. While there are undoubtedly secret operations we’ll never be privy to, satellite images from Google Maps and similar technologies make it hard to conceal things completely. In this list, we’ll take a closer look at ten of these less-than-secret military sites. These “black sites” weren’t supposed to be well-known, but now you’re in the know—and so are we.
10. Area 6
As mentioned earlier, Area 51 is the infamous location most people are familiar with. But just a few miles northeast of this relatively well-known base in the Nevada desert lies Area 6. Far fewer people are aware of what happens there. This smaller installation at Area 6 features a long, enigmatic runway and several large hangars. For years, the government has denied any involvement when journalists have inquired about the site. However, the media got a hint when Area 6 appeared in a 2008 government report about nuclear waste near Yucca Mountain.
The 7,500-page document vaguely described Area 6 as an “aerial operations facility.” The report continued with more details, stating, “The facility’s purpose is to design, operate, and test various unmanned aerial vehicles,” according to government sources. “Tests cover a range of areas, including airframe modifications, sensor functions, and onboard computer development. A small, manned chase plane is utilized to monitor the unmanned vehicles during tests.”
Experts believe this likely points to drone testing. Although we now have some insight into Area 6 and its (alleged) activities, don’t expect too much additional information to come out. The area is fenced off and heavily secured, so no casual drive through the Nevada desert will get you close. Moreover, the airspace above Area 6 is restricted—so don’t get any ideas about flying your own drone to capture aerial photos. You’ll have to be satisfied with a view from Google Maps, just like the rest of us.
9. South China Sea Bases
For years, the Chinese government has been building bases across the South China Sea in a rather public yet unacknowledged manner. The majority of these bases are situated on the strategically important Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands. When the islands alone weren’t sufficient, the government expanded the land area by dredging up around 3,200 acres (1,295 hectares) from the ocean floor. From there, they began constructing various military installations.
Some of the bases were intended to host radar systems, while others served as missile launch sites. A few were designed as helicopter takeoff points. To add to the complexity, the Chinese government made a public statement in 2016 about constructing a new underwater base, over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) beneath the surface of the South China Sea. Was this announcement a strategic move to mislead the world? Perhaps it was a diversion from their other developments in the highly disputed region.
While the global community is aware of these bases' existence, no one has been granted permission to explore further details. For instance, foreign aircraft that venture near these new bases are swiftly ordered to vacate the airspace. As a result, speculation has run rampant regarding the true purpose of these military installations.
Some believe that these remote islands are simply part of China's strategy to assert control over shipping and trade routes in the region. Others suspect they might be vital logistical hubs for overseeing natural gas and oil reserves in the open seas. Yet, many speculate that the bases serve a more military-focused role. After all, the presence of missile launch facilities and military aircraft testing zones certainly suggests such an intention.
8. Kapustin Air Base
The United States is not the only nation with an Area 51-style base. In Russia, there’s a similar mysterious air base located in the rural Siberian outpost of Kapustin Yar. Just like Area 51, Kapustin Yar is the subject of numerous alien conspiracy theories.
This reputation has certainly been bolstered by the fact that Laika, the first living being to orbit Earth, was launched from Kapustin Yar in 1957. But there’s more: former personnel have long claimed that the base is home to alien autopsies and secret tests of extraterrestrial aircraft. Sound familiar, skeptics of Area 51?
Typically, one might dismiss rumors about a remote Russian base. After all, the theories the Russians likely hold about Area 51 are probably just as implausible. However, the similarities between Kapustin Yar and America’s desert testing facility can’t be overlooked. For instance, the Russian government didn’t officially recognize Kapustin until 1983, even though American intelligence and reconnaissance images revealed the base had been in place for decades.
So why all the secrecy? Moreover, satellite and ground radar data indicate that Kapustin Yar is frequently used for rocket launches and low-level nuclear weapons testing. Today, U.S. intelligence agencies believe much of the base is actually situated deep underground. No one knows just how extensive the underground complex is compared to what is visible from space.
At this point, two facts are undeniable: first, the so-called “secret” base is real and actively used, regardless of what the Russian government might claim. And second, there are far more questions than answers regarding the site from anyone outside of Russia.
7. Dulce
Never heard of Dulce? You're not the only one. Unlike many of the military bases on this list, it's not a typical U.S. base. Instead, this secretive and mysterious location just outside a small New Mexico town is believed to be a central site for extraterrestrial research. The town itself is tiny, with a population of just around 2,700, so small that it doesn’t even have a traffic light.
However, for nearly fifty years, locals have been raising alarms about strange occurrences in the area. It all began in 1979 when a local businessman claimed to have intercepted signals from alien communication systems. The next year, a retired state trooper began finding mutilated animal corpses around town. These remains were disturbing, having been butchered in horrific and inexplicable ways.
Throughout the 1980s, others who claimed to have worked at the Dulce alien research facility came forward. One former explosives engineer with federal security clearance stated that he helped construct the base. He further asserted that he had witnessed a “battle” between humans and extraterrestrials. Since then, reports of alien sightings in the area have surged dramatically.
To be fair, whether UFOs are actually present in Dulce isn’t our primary concern here. What we do know for sure is that the U.S. government refuses to comment on any potential activities there. Despite the many claims from locals of strange events in the area for decades, the government insists there is no base and no secret operations taking place. Yeah, sure!
6. Dugway Proving Ground
Some claim that Dugway Proving Ground is on track to become the ‘next’ Area 51. Covering over 800,000 acres (243,800 hectares) in one of the most desolate regions of the Utah desert, Dugway is the size of Rhode Island. Despite its massive scale, access is extremely limited. The federal government took control of the land back in 1942.
During World War II and for many years afterward, Dugway served as a site for testing and developing biological and chemical weapons. Today, its official mission is similar to that original purpose. It’s still used for testing chemical weapons, biological warfare methods, and the development of countermeasures against them.
However, for the skeptics, that explanation doesn’t quite add up. The U.S. Army Reserve and the National Guard utilize the Proving Ground for training. The U.S. Air Force also has a long history of using its vast land for test flights and secretive aerial training. This has led conspiracy theorists to wonder whether Dugway might be hiding more than just chemical weapon research.
These suspicions grew so intense that in 2018, the federal government allowed a select group of media representatives to tour Dugway. Naturally, this “reveal” was tightly controlled and carefully curated—media members saw only what the government wanted them to see. With such an expansive, unexplored desert, it's easy to see why so many believe there’s much more happening behind the scenes than we’ve been told.
5. Mount Yamantau
Similar to Kapustin Yar, Mount Yamantau harbors more mysteries than the public can grasp. Located deep within Russia's Ural Mountains, this base is believed by the U.S. government to be a secret Russian facility dedicated to nuclear and long-range weapons. They compare it to the American Cheyenne Mountain NORAD base.
Eyewitness accounts from the 1990s lend some credibility to this theory. According to reports, the Yamantau base was constructed in the 1970s or 1980s under the leadership of Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev.
However, the true nature of Mount Yamantau remains partially concealed. Although the Russian government has acknowledged its existence, they've been remarkably secretive about its exact purpose. Initially, officials claimed the base was just a mining operation, then later suggested it served as a storage facility for food and supplies in case of an apocalypse. More recently, they stated that Yamantau is a refuge for Russian political leaders during a nuclear crisis.
Regardless of the conflicting statements, there’s another closely guarded site nearby that's gaining attention: Mezhgorye, a small town that, according to Russia's most recent census, houses over 17,000 residents. However, this town is not found on any official Russian maps, and it is completely sealed off from outsiders.
Foreign visitors are forbidden from entering Mezhgorye, where clandestine military units are stationed to conduct covert activities linked to the nearby Yamantau base. It’s as though Mezhgorye is a hidden town, much like Yamantau is a concealed military facility.
4. Pine Gap
Pine Gap, much like several others on this list, is one of the least covert “secret” military installations in the world. Located deep in the Australian outback, far from any form of civilization, this facility is a product of collaboration between Australia and the United States. The joint military base began operations back in the 1960s.
Officially known as the Joint Defense Space Research Facility, its true purpose remains shrouded in mystery. As the name implies, it has something to do with aerospace operations. And, like other secretive American bases, Pine Gap’s success lies in its remote desert location, far from prying eyes.
Originally, the workers at Pine Gap were focused on tracking Soviet missiles and surveillance aircraft. Despite the fall of the Soviet Union, the base continues to operate at full capacity. Experts and military insiders suggest that today, the facility is still heavily involved in monitoring spy satellites positioned around the world.
Pine Gap is so secretive that even former Australian Prime Ministers are kept in the dark about its activities. However, in 2013, Edward Snowden’s high-profile intelligence leak revealed that the base was involved in directing drone strikes in Iraq and across the Middle East.
3. HAARP
The vast deserts of the American Southwest aren’t the only remote locations where the United States sets up military research stations. In the far north, in rural Alaska, the government operates a facility called the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, better known by its acronym HAARP.
HAARP has long been a collaborative military effort, managed by the Air Force, the Navy, the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, and the notorious Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). During its peak years, HAARP’s primary objective was to explore communication techniques and potential advancements in surveillance by utilizing ionospheric technology. In simple terms, the facility was focused on studying the Earth's atmosphere—specifically its ions and free electrons—and investigating how radio waves could be transmitted through it.
For years, HAARP has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. Critics claim that the site is actually used to control the weather globally. Former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez even accused HAARP of deliberately causing the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Similar claims suggest HAARP is responsible for manipulating natural disasters.
HAARP is rumored to have the ability to control floods, hurricanes, and even develop mind-control technologies. Some even claim it can cause plane crashes and power outages at will. While the federal government officially shut down HAARP in 2014, many skeptics believe the facility is still operational, continuing to create chaos around the world.
2. Porton Down
While we've focused heavily on American and Russian military installations throughout this list, let’s not overlook a famous British site that everyone seems to know about, though it remains somewhat secretive. Situated across the Atlantic, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory—known more informally as Porton Down—is a key military facility.
Porton Down was first established over a century ago, in 1916, and became the site where the British first tested chemical weapons. While it has significantly evolved since its early days during World War I, Porton Down continues to capture public interest in the 21st century.
In modern times, the work done at Porton Down goes beyond the study of chemical weapons. Researchers at the facility are also involved in studying infectious diseases and experimenting with super-viruses. This includes tracking agents like ebola, anthrax, toxic nerve agents, and other dangerous pathogens.
Officially, the UK government denies any ongoing research into chemical or biological weapons at Porton Down, claiming such activities ceased in the mid-1950s. However, skepticism remains widespread among the public, who continue to question the government's stance. It's clear, despite official claims, that Porton Down remains active, making it another example of a so-called “secret” military site that isn’t quite as clandestine as it seems.
1. Raven Rock (Site R)
The Raven Rock Mountain Complex, also known as Site R, is one of the U.S. government's least secretive yet most heavily protected military facilities. This underground complex, located deep beneath the rural hills of southern Pennsylvania, is designed to function as a shelter during a nuclear disaster.
In the event of nuclear warfare, it’s believed that U.S. military leaders would retreat to this underground sanctuary. Here, they could continue managing military operations, even as the world above them is devastated by nuclear explosions and fallout. The idea is that, deep within the mountain, they could carry on their duties with little interruption, regardless of the chaos unfolding outside.
What we do know about Raven Rock is quite impressive. The facility is carved into the side of Raven Rock Mountain, burrowing half a mile into the mountain and another half-mile deeper into the earth. Inside, there’s a power plant, a reservoir stocked with clean water, and several large buildings embedded within the rock. It also has its own police and fire departments, along with a cafeteria capable of feeding over 2,000 people.
Essentially, Site R is a self-sustaining community designed for those who would survive a nuclear apocalypse. The facility remains operational today, with personnel frequently entering and exiting to maintain its readiness. While the full extent of what happens behind its closed doors remains a mystery, we can only hope that the day never comes when those inside must rush into Raven Rock to escape the disaster above.
