U. S.

Recently, reports have surfaced that U. S. forces deployed an anti-drone laser weapon near El Paso airport in Texas, resulting in a temporary closure of airspace and widespread confusion. This system, called Locust, was developed by American defense company AeroVironment and is used by the U. S. Army.

According to Reuters, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed the airspace around El Paso for over seven hours due to concerns that the anti-drone system could pose a threat to commercial airliners. However, the FAA did not provide any further details on the nature of these concerns. The closure was lifted a few hours later, but not before causing chaos and confusion for local officials and airport personnel who were not warned in advance.

The use of the anti-drone laser weapon was allowed by the Pentagon, according to two unnamed sources cited by the Associated Press. However, the Trump administration did not mention the use of a laser weapon, instead stating that military force was used to address a drone incursion at the border.

In recent years, the development of cost-effective ways to counter inexpensive drone threats has become a top priority for militaries around the world. This has led to the increasing use of directed-energy weapons such as lasers and high frequency radio waves. The FAA issued a Notice to Airmen on Wednesday, restricting flights over El Paso for the next 10 days for “special security reasons.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the FAA and Pentagon responded to a “cartel drone incursion” and that the “threat has been neutralized. ” However, he did not provide any details on how exactly U. S. forces responded.

El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson told the BBC that local officials were not warned in advance of the airspace closure, causing “complete chaos. ” Democratic Representative Veronica Escobar, whose district covers El Paso, expressed frustration that neither her office nor local officials were informed about the closure beforehand. Escobar called for answers and accountability, stating that “this was the result of incompetence at the highest levels of the administration.

Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, who represents parts of southwestern Texas, stated that drone incursions are a daily occurrence on the border and that the U. S. is finally taking action to counter them. The Trump administration has made it a priority to crack down on drug cartels, often framing them as a threat to national security.

According to the U. S. military, there are over 1,000 drone incursions along the U. S. -Mexico border each month. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexican officials have no information on drones at the border and urged the U. S. to engage with the Mexican government.

However, the use of military lasers to combat drone threats raises safety concerns.