US Army deploys 20-kilowatt laser system to destroy drones at Mexico border
The Joint Task Force Southern Border used the Locust Laser Weapon System to shoot down three drones near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas on August 25-26.
What happened
The US Army's Joint Task Force Southern Border, operating under US Northern Command, used a 20-kilowatt high-energy laser system to destroy three drones near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas between August 25-26. The drones were reported to pose a physical threat to US military personnel and Customs and Border Patrol partners. The system used, called the Locust Laser Weapon System, is manufactured by AeroVironment and mounted on military vehicles. The laser operates by using sensors and cameras to locate and track targets, then focuses an extremely concentrated beam of light that converts to heat to damage or destroy the target.
Context
The Locust system represents the operational deployment of the Army's High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program, which began in September 2025 when AeroVironment delivered the first two functional prototypes. Two additional improved systems were delivered in December 2025 as the program expanded. This marks a shift toward laser-based air defense for border security operations. The effectiveness of the laser depends on factors including distance, exposure time, and target characteristics, making it a variable tool for addressing airborne threats.