Military Uses Laser to Neutralize Cartel Drones at the Border

In a notable first for U.S. border operations, military forces successfully deployed a high-energy laser to take out three drones operated by Mexican drug cartels along the U.S.–Mexico border, as reported by defense officials.

On Thursday, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) confirmed in a statement that the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), supporting Customs and Border Protection (CBP), utilized “directed energy capabilities” to neutralize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) during an overnight operation that occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The task force made use of the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) after assessing that the drones posed a real threat to both U.S. military and CBP personnel. This instance marks the AMP-HEL’s initial application against cartel-related drones near the Southern Border.

“The successful defeat of these adversarial drones is a direct testament to the readiness, vigilance, and technological edge of the JTF,” noted Major General Curtis Taylor, the commander of JTF-SB. “Cartel networks are increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate illicit human smuggling and actively spy on our personnel and law enforcement partners. By integrating layered countermeasures alongside advanced directed-energy capabilities like this laser system, we have made it clear that we will not tolerate hostile surveillance.”

He further emphasized appreciation for the cooperation with Mexican Army partners while addressing this border threat.

NORTHCOM celebrated the operation in a social media update, promoting their “right tools and right authorities, in the hands of trained warfighters.”

Although the laser operates from southern Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, military officials did not disclose the exact location of the action or specify whether it occurred over U.S. or Mexican territory.

It’s worth mentioning that Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously commented that any unilateral U.S. actions on Mexican land would breach her country’s sovereignty.

U.S. security personnel have long been apprehensive about the use of drones by Mexican cartels for surveillance of trafficking routes and dropping illegal drug packages. In some regions of Mexico, cartels have also reportedly used drones to deploy explosives, which Mexican authorities are actively working against.