Pentagon Reportedly Authorized CBP Anti-Drone Laser Prior to El Paso Airspace Shutdown
New reports indicate that the Department of Defense authorized Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to deploy advanced anti-drone laser technology shortly before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an abruptly closing of the airspace over El Paso, Texas. According to details emerging from Associated Press reporting, the military-grade directed energy weapon was utilized to neutralize unauthorized unmanned aerial systems operating near the southern border.
The deployment of such technology represents a significant escalation in border security measures. Directed energy weapons, often referred to as “anti-drone lasers,” are designed to disable the electronics or flight controls of incoming drones without using kinetic projectiles. While the Department of Defense has tested these systems in combat zones, their domestic use involves complex coordination with aviation authorities to prevent collateral interference with civilian aircraft. This recent incident suggests a rapid authorization process was initiated to combat immediate threats perceived by border agents.
Context surrounding the incident highlights a growing struggle against aerial incursions. Over the past two years, CBP has reported a sharp increase in the use of surveillance and payload-carrying drones by transnational criminal organizations. These drones are frequently used to monitor agent positions or transport contraband. The FAA’s subsequent airspace closure was officially cited as a security measure, a standard protocol when military or high-risk law enforcement operations are active. However, the timing suggests the closure may have been a direct consequence of the decision to activate high-energy lasers in a corridor heavily trafficked by commercial flights.
Despite the official rationale, the incident has drawn sharp objections from aviation safety advocates and transparency watchdogs. Critics question the sequence of events, suggesting that the airspace may have been closed only after the technology was deployed, rather than beforehand, posing a potential risk to civilian air traffic. Furthermore, skepticism remains regarding the scope of the operation. While officials maintain the system was strictly targeted at hostile drones, questions persist about whether the sudden lockdown was intended to shield the testing of experimental military hardware from public scrutiny under the guise of an emergency response.
