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US Military Uses High-Energy Laser to Shoot Down Three Drones Near Mexico Border

Confirmed1 source · Sep 1, 2026

The Army deployed a 20-kilowatt laser weapon system to neutralize aircraft near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas between August 25-26.

US Military Uses High-Energy Laser to Shoot Down Three Drones Near Mexico Border
Image via Wired

What happened

The US Army's Joint Task Force Southern Border used a high-energy multipurpose laser system derived from the Army's High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program, operating at 20 kilowatts, to shoot down three drones in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas during the night of August 25 and early morning of August 26. The system, called the Locust Laser Weapon System and manufactured by AeroVironment, uses a concentrated beam of light to detect, track, and destroy targets by converting focused light into heat. The first two functional prototypes were delivered by AeroVironment in September 2025, with two improved systems delivered in December 2025. The operation was justified on grounds that the drones posed a physical threat to US military personnel and Customs and Border Patrol agents. JTF-SB Commander Curtis Taylor suggested the aircraft could be linked to criminal cells involved in drug trafficking and operations in Mexican territory, stating that cartel networks are increasingly using unmanned systems for smuggling and surveillance.

Context

The deployment of this laser weapon system reflects an escalation in border security technology under President Trump's second administration, which has emphasized combating illegal immigration and drug cartels through advanced capabilities. The exact origin of the drones and responsible parties remain unconfirmed, as do the specific technical details of which AMP-HEL variants were deployed. The integration of directed-energy weapons into border defense represents a shift toward layered, technologically sophisticated countermeasures against unmanned aircraft threats in the region.

What's disputed

The origin of the three drones, the entities responsible for operating them, and the exact location of the operation remain unconfirmed. The connection to cartel networks is suggested by the commander but not independently verified in available sources. The exact models from the AMP-HEL program used in the operation were not specified.