US Army Uses a Laser Weapon for the First Time to Down Three Cartel Drones on the Mexico Border

The U.S. Army employed a high-energy laser to bring down three Mexican drug cartel-linked drones near the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas, marking the first time such a weapon has destroyed hostile drones, according to a recent announcement. The operations took place late on Tuesday, August 25, and early on Wednesday, August 26, according to the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD).

The Joint Task Force–Southern Border, a military unit established in March 2025 and supporting Customs and Border Protection, reported that the drones were actively involved in threats to personnel and activities. Major General Curtis Taylor stated that drug cartels increasingly utilize drones for smuggling and surveillance purposes.

The Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL), built by AeroVironment and part of the LOCUST family, fires a focused beam of light to disable drones. While the exact locations of the drone crashes remain undisclosed, the U.S. military emphasized that this marks a unique occurrence—destroying drones identified as genuinely hostile rather than balloons or friendly aircraft.

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has cautioned that any unilateral U.S. military action on Mexican soil would gravely breach Mexico's sovereignty. Washington has been coordinating closely with Mexico on this mission, including joint patrols with Mexican military personnel since the creation of the task force. The U.S. response to the drone threat has involved militarizing the border, with approximately 8,000 troops currently serving under the Border Task Force.

The deployment of the laser weapon and its potential diplomatic implications are closely watched by Mexico, particularly given the potential consequences if the drones fell on Mexican territory.