The US Army used a 20-kilowatt high-energy laser to shoot down three drones near the US-Mexico border, marking one of the first known operational uses of directed-energy weapons in the region. Official reports stated the drones were “posing a physical threat to US military personnel and CBP partners,” a reference to Customs and Border Patrol.
The operation took place overnight between August 25 and the early morning of August 26, in the vicinity of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. It was led by the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), which operates under US Northern Command. Officials confirmed that agents relied on technology derived from the Army’s High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program, a military effort focused on fielding high-energy lasers for new defense roles.
How the Locust Laser Weapon System Works
The platform behind the operation is the Locust Laser Weapon System, built by defense technology company AeroVironment. The system is designed to be mounted on military vehicles, and the Army has deployed the versions it received in exactly that configuration.
Operating at 20 kilowatts, the Locust concentrates a beam of light that, across several phases, can detect, track, illuminate, damage, or destroy targets at a distance. Systems like this typically use sensors, cameras, radars, or other tools to locate an object. Once a target is identified, the platform focuses the beam on it with high precision, even while the object is moving. An additional electrical charge then boosts the beam’s power and converts it into heat, damaging or disabling the drone. The exact outcome depends on factors such as distance, exposure time, and the characteristics of the target.
The most recent versions, including one delivered last December, add radar and command-and-control systems. These features make it easier to integrate the weapon into a larger mobile defense platform rather than operating it as a standalone device.
Program Timeline and Deployment
The initiative traces back to September 2025, when AeroVironment delivered the first two functional prototypes to the US Armed Forces. Two additional, improved systems were delivered in December of the same year as the program expanded.
The precise location of the operation has not been released. There is also no concrete information on the origin of the neutralized drones or the parties operating them. Curtis Taylor, commander of JTF-SB, suggested the aircraft could be tied to criminal groups involved in drug trafficking activity in Mexican territory.
“Cartel networks are increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate illicit human smuggling and actively spy on our personnel and law enforcement partners. By integrating layered countermeasures alongside advanced directed-energy capabilities like this laser system, we have made it clear that we will not tolerate hostile surveillance. We also greatly appreciate the support of our Mexican Army partners as we work together to combat this threat to the border region,” Taylor stated in a press release.
The official statement does not specify which exact models from the AMP-HEL program were used during the operation.
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Image: arstechnica.com
