US Army Uses Laser System to Down Mexican Cartel Drones Near Texas Border

The U.S. Army has successfully employed a laser weapon system to neutralize three drones associated with Mexican drug cartels near the Texas border. The operation, which took place overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, utilized the service's Multi-Purpose High-Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) system, according to statements from North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command.

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Most people imagine that a laser weapon works like a laser gun in a science fiction movie: an operator aims, pulls the trigger, and a beam shoots out toward the target.

This incident highlights the increasing use of advanced technology in border security and counter-narcotics operations. The AMP-HEL system is part of the LOCUST LWS, a directed-energy laser weapon system developed by BlueHalo and marketed by AeroVironment for defense against unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).

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In movies, laser beams look like flashes of light traveling through the sky. Real directed-energy systems do not work like that.

Contrary to science fiction depictions, the laser beam itself is invisible and travels at the speed of light. Aaron Westman, an engineer specializing in anti-drone and directed-energy systems, explained that the beam has an "hourglass" shape, with a focal point designed to concentrate energy on a specific target. Beyond this focal point, the beam disperses rapidly, significantly reducing its intensity and minimizing the risk to aircraft or other targets far from the intended impact zone.

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The beam itself is invisible and travels at the speed of light. The system can turn the laser on and off extremely quickly, activating or deactivating it in fractions of a second, while safety systems continuously monitor conditions.