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US military laser blasts three cartel spy drones at the southern border in overnight operation

The laser system also detected cartel drones being used to spy on US personnel and guide human smuggling operations across the Rio Grande Valley, military officials said.
The laser system also detected cartel drones being used to spy on US personnel and guide human smuggling operations across the Rio Grande Valley, military officials said.
Major General Curtis Taylor said cartel networks are "increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems" to facilitate illicit smuggling and actively surveil US border personnel.
Major General Curtis Taylor said cartel networks are "increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems" to facilitate illicit smuggling and actively surveil US border personnel.

The US Army's Multipurpose High Energy Laser shot down three cartel drones between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning along the US-Mexico border, military officials announced Thursday. Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, said the drones posed a direct physical threat to military personnel and Customs and Border Protection officers.

Cartels have increasingly turned to drones to keep watch on US troops and guide smuggling runs, with NORTHCOM's head warning earlier this year that such overflights had become a routine occurrence.

The Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser is a vehicle-mounted mobile system built by AeroVironment; the Army only took delivery of its first prototypes last autumn.

In February, the same laser technology accidentally brought down a US Border Patrol drone in southwest Texas — underscoring the risks of using directed-energy weapons in a crowded border airspace.

Morewashingtontimes.comU.S. military uses laser to blast cartel drones at southern borderYahoo News UKU.S. military uses laser to shoot down 3 cartel drones at southern border, Pentagon saysThe HillLaser used to shoot down cartel drones near Mexico border - The HillBusiness InsiderA US military laser weapon is taking out cartel-linked drones at the southern border. It defeated 3 this week. - Business Insider
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