US Army uses 20-kilowatt laser to destroy three drones

The US Army successfully employed a 20-kilowatt high-energy laser system to shoot down three drones near the US-Mexico border. The operation, which occurred between the night of August 25 and the early morning of August 26 in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, was led by the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), operating under US Northern Command. Officials stated the drones were posing a physical threat to US military personnel and Customs and Border Patrol partners.

The technology utilized is derived from the Army’s High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) system. Information suggests this initiative began with prototype deliveries in September 2025, with improved systems delivered in December of the same year. The specific platform used, known as the Locust Laser Weapon System developed by AeroVironment, is designed to be mounted on military vehicles.

The Locust system operates by focusing a concentrated beam of light, amplified by an electrical charge, to generate heat that damages or disables targets. This process allows for detection, tracking, illumination, and destruction of moving objects with precision, with the exact outcome dependent on factors like distance and exposure time.