{
  "id": 3971175,
  "title": "A US military laser weapon is taking out cartel-linked drones at the southern border. It defeated 3 this week.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/a-us-military-laser-weapon-is-taking-out-cartel-linked-drones-at-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T13:44:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-laser-weapon-drug-cartel-drones-2026-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US military personnel have successfully used a laser weapon to destroy three cartel-linked drones near the southern border, according to a recent statement by Joint Task Force - Southern Border. The directed-energy weapon, known as the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser, is a mobile system mounted on a vehicle and was deployed by US forces stationed at the border this week. The drones were deemed hostile due to their use in supporting activities that posed a physical threat to US military personnel and Customs and Border Protection partners. The task force emphasized that the deployment of layered countermeasures, including advanced directed-energy capabilities like the laser system, sends a clear message that they will not tolerate hostile surveillance. Drug cartels have increasingly turned to unmanned aerial systems to support their operations, and US forces have responded by testing hundreds of counter-drone systems in a controlled environment near the border.",
  "summary": "The US southern border has become a sandbox for troops testing how to use counter-drone weapons and systems.",
  "key_points": [
    "US military laser weapon defeated three cartel-linked drones",
    "Directed-energy weapon deployed at southern border this week",
    "Drone use deemed hostile due to threat to personnel"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "US military uses laser to down three Mexican cartel drones near border",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/us-military-uses-laser-to-down-three-mexican-cartel-drones-near-border",
        "published": "2026-08-28T13:15:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}