Pentagon Downs US Drone With Laser
In a bizarre incident, the Pentagon used a directed-energy laser system to shoot down a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso, Texas. Lawmakers confirmed the event, which highlights growing coordination challenges between American security agencies as they deploy advanced tech.
The weapon involved was the Army's Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system, which mounts a 50-kilowatt class laser on a Stryker armored vehicle. This system is part of a rapid prototyping program designed to counter threats like drones, rockets, and mortars. The destroyed drone was reportedly an MQ-9 Reaper operated by Customs and Border Protection. Each Predator B drone, the model used by CBP, costs around $17 million to purchase, with an operational cost estimated at over $12,000 per flight hour. This was the second major laser-related incident in the region within two weeks. In the prior event, CBP personnel fired a laser system at an object they believed was a cartel drone but was later determined to be a balloon; that incident prompted a brief, chaotic shutdown of the El Paso airport. In response to the friendly fire downing, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice closing the airspace around Fort Hancock, Texas, for "special security reasons." The flight restrictions are set to remain in effect until June 24, 2026, though they are not expected to impact commercial aviation. A joint statement from the Pentagon, CBP, and FAA acknowledged that the military engaged a "seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system" that was operating in military airspace. Officials familiar with the matter stated the Defense Department did not realize the drone belonged to another U.S. agency and had not coordinated the laser's use with the FAA beforehand. The event drew sharp criticism from lawmakers. In a joint statement, leading Democrats on the House Transportation and Homeland Security committees said, "Our heads are exploding over the news," blaming the Trump administration for failing to address known coordination problems between the agencies.
