U.S. Army laser shoots down three drones in combat, intercepting suspected drug-trafficking targets for the first time

The U.S. Army says it used a high-energy laser to destroy three drones along the southern border, in what it described as the system’s first interception of aircraft suspected of belonging to a drug-trafficking group.

The operation took place last week and involved the Joint Task Force Southern Border. Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, the task force commander, said the destruction of the hostile drones demonstrated the unit’s readiness, vigilance and technological advantage. He said layered defenses combined with advanced laser weapons could deter hostile surveillance activity.

The Army presented the operation as an example of the growing role of directed-energy weapons in counter-drone missions. Defense officials expect future battlefields to feature large numbers of expendable drones. The U.S. military plans to purchase hundreds of thousands of drones as early as next year while also expanding counter-drone capabilities, including laser systems, for domestic defense and southern-border operations.

Cost is a central argument for the technology. The military says repeatedly using air-defense missiles that cost millions of dollars each would be too expensive against swarms of low-cost drones. A directed-energy system can fire repeatedly when it has sufficient power, and officials say it can also be used against cruise missiles.

The military has accelerated testing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watched a directed-energy system intercept drones and cruise missiles at White Sands Missile Range in June. In July, the military awarded two agreements under the Joint Laser Weapon System program, with an initial value of $86 million and a total program ceiling of $847 million. The stated aim is to move directed-energy weapons from demonstration prototypes toward mass production and operational deployment.

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The successful destruction of hostile drones demonstrates the force’s readiness, vigilance and technological advantage. Through layered countermeasures combined with advanced laser weapons, we can clearly deter hostile surveillance activity.