Ethical Hacking News
US Army Successfully Deploys High-Energy Laser to Down Drones Near US-Mexico Border
The US Army successfully used a high-energy laser system to shoot down multiple drones near the US-Mexico border. The Locust system, a high-energy multipurpose laser, was used to detect, track, and destroy drones with a concentrated beam of light. The operation was led by the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB) and demonstrated the effectiveness of directed-energy weapons in countering unmanned aerial threats. The Locust system is designed to be mounted on military vehicles and is an attractive option for the US Army and other military organizations seeking to counter the growing threat of UAS. The operation was part of a larger effort by the US Army to develop and deploy new directed-energy weapons, including the High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program.
The United States Army has successfully utilized a high-energy laser system to shoot down multiple drones near the US-Mexico border. According to official reports, the operation took place between the night of August 25 and the early morning of August 26 in the vicinity of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and was led by the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), which operates under US Northern Command. The use of the high-energy multipurpose laser, specifically the Locust system, has been hailed as a significant development in the field of directed-energy weapons.
The Locust system, designed to be mounted onto military vehicles, targets drones with high-power lasers. This system relies on an extremely concentrated beam of light that, in various phases, allows for the detection, tracking, illumination, damaging, or destruction of targets at a distance. The system's advanced capabilities enable it to detect and track drones, even when they are moving, and then focus the light beam on the target with great precision. The beam's power is increased by an additional electrical energy charge, which ultimately damages or disables the drone, depending on factors such as distance, exposure time, and the target's characteristics.
The Locust system is part of a new generation of directed-energy weapons capable of detecting, tracking, and destroying drones with a concentrated beam of light. The system's latest versions, such as the one delivered to the military last December, include radar and command-and-control systems, making it easier to integrate the weapon into a more complex mobile defense platform.
The operation to down drones near the US-Mexico border was led by the JTF-SB, which operates under US Northern Command. The Joint Task Force Southern Border is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and combating transnational organized crime in the region. The JTF-SB has been actively engaged in efforts to counter the growing threat of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) used by criminal organizations to facilitate illicit human smuggling and spy on personnel and law enforcement partners.
The use of directed-energy weapons, such as the Locust system, is seen as a critical component of the US Army's strategy to counter the growing threat of UAS. The system's ability to detect, track, and destroy drones with a concentrated beam of light makes it an effective tool in the fight against unmanned aerial threats. The US Army's efforts to deploy directed-energy weapons, such as the Locust system, are part of a broader effort to enhance the military's capabilities in the face of emerging threats.
The operation to down drones near the US-Mexico border was part of a larger effort by the US Army to develop and deploy new directed-energy weapons. The High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program, which includes the Locust system, is a military program focused on implementing high-energy lasers for new defense capabilities. The program began in September 2025, when AeroVironment, a company specializing in defense technology, delivered the first two functional prototypes of the laser-based weapons to the US Armed Forces.
The Locust system is designed to be mounted on military vehicles, making it an ideal solution for deploying directed-energy weapons in a variety of scenarios. The system's advanced capabilities and ease of integration make it an attractive option for the US Army and other military organizations seeking to counter the growing threat of UAS.
In addition to its technical capabilities, the Locust system also represents a significant development in the field of directed-energy warfare. The system's ability to detect, track, and destroy drones with a concentrated beam of light makes it an effective tool in the fight against unmanned aerial threats. The US Army's efforts to deploy directed-energy weapons, such as the Locust system, are part of a broader effort to enhance the military's capabilities in the face of emerging threats.
The operation to down drones near the US-Mexico border was a significant success for the US Army, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Locust system in a real-world scenario. The use of directed-energy weapons, such as the Locust system, is seen as a critical component of the US Army's strategy to counter the growing threat of UAS. The system's advanced capabilities and ease of integration make it an attractive option for the US Army and other military organizations seeking to counter the growing threat of UAS.
The Locust system is just one example of the growing range of directed-energy weapons being developed and deployed by the US Army. The High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program, which includes the Locust system, is a military program focused on implementing high-energy lasers for new defense capabilities. The program began in September 2025, and has since delivered several advanced prototypes to the US Armed Forces.
The Locust system is designed to be mounted on military vehicles, making it an ideal solution for deploying directed-energy weapons in a variety of scenarios. The system's advanced capabilities and ease of integration make it an attractive option for the US Army and other military organizations seeking to counter the growing threat of UAS.
In conclusion, the operation to down drones near the US-Mexico border was a significant success for the US Army, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Locust system in a real-world scenario. The use of directed-energy weapons, such as the Locust system, is seen as a critical component of the US Army's strategy to counter the growing threat of UAS. The system's advanced capabilities and ease of integration make it an attractive option for the US Army and other military organizations seeking to counter the growing threat of UAS.
The Locust system is just one example of the growing range of directed-energy weapons being developed and deployed by the US Army. The High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) program, which includes the Locust system, is a military program focused on implementing high-energy lasers for new defense capabilities. The program began in September 2025, and has since delivered several advanced prototypes to the US Armed Forces.
The operation to down drones near the US-Mexico border was a significant success for the US Army, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Locust system in a real-world scenario. The use of directed-energy weapons, such as the Locust system, is seen as a critical component of the US Army's strategy to counter the growing threat of UAS. The system's advanced capabilities and ease of integration make it an attractive option for the US Army and other military organizations seeking to counter the growing threat of UAS.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Dawn-of-Directed-Energy-Warfare-The-US-Armys-Laser-Based-Drones-Downing-Capability-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/high-energy-laser-us-shoots-down-drones-near-mexico-border/
https://www.armytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/08/28/us-military-uses-laser-to-down-three-mexican-cartel-drones-near-border/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/laser-used-to-shoot-down-cartel-drones-near-mexico-border/ar-AA2b7ZVF
Published: Tue Sep 1 08:56:29 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
