Military Downs CBP Drone in Texas

The friendly-fire incident occurred on February 26, 2026, near Fort Hancock, Texas, when a U.S. military-operated laser weapon downed a drone belonging to Customs and Border Protection. The Pentagon and CBP issued a joint statement acknowledging the engagement, stating the military "employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace." This event marked the second time in a month that anti-drone operations led to airspace restrictions in the region. Just weeks earlier, on February 11, the FAA briefly closed airspace near El Paso after CBP personnel, trained by the military, used a laser system to target a suspected cartel drone which turned out to be a party balloon. That earlier incident reportedly involved an Army-owned AeroVironment LOCUST laser counter-drone weapon. The repeated incidents have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers. In a joint statement, Democratic representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson said, "Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system." They blamed the "incompetence" on the White House's decision to bypass a bipartisan bill aimed at improving training and inter-agency coordination. Customs and Border Protection operates a varied fleet of drones, from large, expensive models to smaller, tactical aircraft. Its inventory includes the Predator B drone, which costs an estimated $17 million per aircraft and over $12,000 per flight hour to operate. The agency has also been expanding its use of smaller, less costly systems like the Teal Drones' Golden Eagle for reconnaissance and surveillance.