Drone activity at U.S.-Mexico border drops 75% after U.S. uses laser weapon, military says

Key Points:

• The U.S. military's recent deployment of a high-energy laser weapon system along the southern border has led to an estimated 75% decrease in drone incursions in the Rio Grande Valley, with 11 drones taken down by the laser over ten days.
• The laser system, called LOCUST and produced by AeroVironment, uses precise heat beams to disable drones, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional interceptors, with each shot costing around $3.
• While the laser is not a complete solution due to limitations like weather interference and safety concerns near civilian aircraft, military officials coordinate closely with the FAA and Mexican authorities to ensure safe and effective use.
• Cartels use drones mainly to surveil U.S. military and law enforcement positions to avoid detection during smuggling operations; disrupting these drones financially impacts cartel operations and reduces threats to approximately 8,000 U.S. personnel along the border.
• The military views the laser as a game-changer because it permanently disables drones rather than just temporarily disrupting them, preventing repeated incursions by the same devices and enhancing border security efforts.