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ConflictUS military uses laser to down 3 Mexican cartel drones near Texas border
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The U.S. military used an Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser in southern Texas' Rio Grande Valley to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones late Tuesday and early Wednesday, according to U.S. officials. The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command stated the drones posed a physical threat to U.S. military and Customs and Border Protection personnel. The precise location of the strikes was not disclosed, nor whether they occurred over U.S. or Mexican territory. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has warned that any unilateral U.S. action on Mexican soil would be a grave breach of sovereignty. Major General Curtis Taylor, commander of Joint Task Force–Southern Border, noted cartel networks increasingly use drones for human smuggling and surveillance. The operation is part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on immigration and cartels. The laser system's manufacturer was not specified, but AeroVironment Inc delivered its first two such systems to the Army last summer.
Source report
The U.S. military used a laser in southern Texas' Rio Grande Valley to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones this week near the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command said in a statement that the operation took place late Tuesday and early Wednesday and employed the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser.
Key Details
- The military did not disclose the precise location of the strikes or clarify whether they occurred over U.S. or Mexican territory.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated that any unilateral U.S. action on Mexican soil would constitute a grave breach of her country's sovereignty.
- The military stated the drones posed "a physical threat" to U.S. military and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.
Official Statement
"Cartel networks are increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate illicit human-smuggling and actively spy on our personnel and law enforcement partners," said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Joint Task Force–Southern Border.
Broader Context
The announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration seeks to clamp down on immigration and cartels, fulfilling promises from his 2024 presidential campaign.
Since its establishment in 2025, the border task force has conducted tens of thousands of detection and monitoring patrols and thousands of observation flights, the task force said.
Laser System Details
The military did not specify the manufacturer of the laser system. However:
- AeroVironment Inc. delivered its first two multi-purpose high-energy lasers to the U.S. Army last summer.
- The U.S. Army has previously deployed AeroVironment Inc.'s LOCUST system.
- That deployment led to a seven-hour airspace shutdown near Texas' El Paso International Airport earlier this year.
Previous Incidents
In February, the military accidentally shot down a U.S. government drone using a laser-based anti-drone system, congressional aides told Reuters at the time.
Cartel Drone Use
U.S. security officials have expressed concern about the use of drones by Mexican cartels, which mostly employ crudely adapted versions of off-the-shelf models to drop drug packages or surveil trafficking routes. In parts of Mexico farther from the U.S. border, cartels have used drones to drop explosives in deadly attacks. U.S. and Mexican authorities are working together to combat the rise of drones in the border region.
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U.S. Military Uses Laser to Down Three Mexican Cartel Drones Near Border