Using High-Energy Laser, US Shoots Down Drones Near Mexico Border
US Army uses high-energy laser to shoot down three drones near Mexico border.
The US Army successfully used a High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) system, specifically the Locust Laser Weapon System, to destroy three drones near the US-Mexico border. These drones were reportedly posing a threat to US military personnel and Customs and Border Patrol. The operation highlights the increasing use of directed-energy weapons by the US military to counter threats from criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and smuggling.
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The lesson from this incident
Full lessonThe US military's deployment of the Locust Laser Weapon System to neutralize drone threats near the border underscores the evolving threat landscape posed by non-state criminal organizations leveraging commercial and modified drone technology. Criminal trafficking networks are increasingly using drones for reconnaissance, smuggling, and potentially threatening military and law enforcement personnel, exploiting gaps in traditional air defense coverage. The successful intercept demonstrates that perimeter security — whether physical or digital — requires layered, adaptive countermeasures that evolve alongside adversary capabilities. This incident matters because it signals that low-cost drone technology is now a viable tool for organized crime, raising the bar for both physical and cyber-physical security programs.