US Military Uses Laser At Border To Shoot Down Drug Cartel Drones

August 28, 2026 6:16 PM ET The U.S. military employed laser technology this week to take down cartel drones at the border, according to a statement from the Joint Task Force-Border Security (JTF-SB).According to the statement, the military used the laser technology against “three adversarial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).”The JTF-SB concluded the drones posed a threat to military personnel in the area as well as the Customs and Border Protection partners the task force works alongside, according to the statement.“The successful defeat of these adversarial drones is a direct testament to the readiness, vigilance, and technological edge of the JTF,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of JTF-SB. The JTF-SB used the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) during the operation. — J