U.S. military uses laser to shoot down 3 cartel drones at southern border, Pentagon says

Key Points:

• The U.S. military used an Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser system to shoot down three drones along the U.S.-Mexico border, which were allegedly operated by drug cartels and deemed hostile due to threats to U.S. personnel and Customs and Border Protection.
• The drones were downed late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning by the southern border Joint Task Force, part of USNORTHCOM, though specific locations and cartel affiliations were not disclosed for operational security.
• Cartel networks increasingly use drones for illicit human smuggling and surveillance of U.S. military and law enforcement personnel, prompting the military to deploy advanced countermeasures including directed-energy laser systems.
• Previous incidents involving military lasers include an accidental shootdown of a U.S. Customs drone and temporary FAA airspace shutdowns near El Paso due to safety concerns related to military drone tests.
• The southern border Joint Task Force, comprising about 8,000 service members, was established last year to support immigration enforcement efforts and counter cartel activities along the border.