That sounds like it would have been within R-2503A, which is the restricted airspace over and around Camp Pendleton. The Marines operate UAVs so it could have been part of a military exercise.
Thank you so much for this info! So, if I understand you correctly, the airspace above the freeway is still restricted even though the Highway is public land? Is this accurate?
I agree that it's entirely feasible that this was a military exercise.
What seemed particularly strange about it from my POV was that the drone was hovering directly above passing traffic. As I mentioned, it had extremely good attitude control and was just lingering directly above the flow of traffic with what looked like cameras.
I can't personally understand why a "military exercise" requires hovering over civilians for extended periods of time, but I'm sure there could be extremely reasonable explanations. I'd still like the benefit of at least being offered one though.
