{
  "id": 5113176,
  "title": "The Army just used a 20-kilowatt laser to take out three drones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/the-army-just-used-a-20-kilowatt-laser-to-take-out-three-drones",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T13:04:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/the-army-just-used-a-20-kilowatt-laser-to-take-out-three-drones/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US Army employed a high-energy multipurpose laser to eliminate three drones near the US-Mexico border, as reported on August 25-26. The operation, conducted by the Joint Task Force Southern Border under US Northern Command, targeted drones that reportedly posed a physical threat to military personnel and Customs and Border Patrol partners. The deployment of the High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) system, derived from a military program aimed at developing advanced defense technologies, occurred in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The first two functional prototypes of the Locust Laser Weapon System, a mounted laser-based weapon designed for military vehicles, were delivered to the US Armed Forces in September 2025. Subsequent improvements were introduced in December of the same year.",
  "summary": "The Army says its laser system can track and destroy hostile drones.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}