The Army just used a 20-kilowatt laser to take out three drones
The Army says its laser system can track and destroy hostile drones.
The Army says its laser system can track and destroy hostile drones.
The short version
- The operation took place between the night of August 25 and the early morning of August 26 in the vicinity of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and was led by the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), which operates under US Northern Command.
- Authorities confirmed that, during the operation, agents used technology derived from the Army’s High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) system, a military program focused on implementing high-energy lasers for new defense capabilities.
- In addition, Locust’s most recent versions—such as the one delivered to the military last December—include radar and command-and-control systems.
What happened
These make it easier to integrate the weapon into a more complex mobile defense platform, rather than using it as a standalone device. The exact location of the operation remains unknown.
Why it matters
Nor is there any concrete information regarding the origin of the neutralized drones or the entities responsible for their operation.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.