Summary
The Pentagon and faa signed a “landmark” safety agreement over the domestic use of counter-uas laser technology, following two back-to-back airspace incidents in Texas in February 2026 and a March 7–8 safety test at white-sands-missile-range. Government evaluators tested the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) against a decommissioned Boeing 767 fuselage and demonstrated its automated safety shut-off system, which inhibited firing when commercial aircraft signals were detected. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed the systems “do not present an increased risk to the flying public.” jiatf-401 director Brig. Gen. matt-ross said the agreement’s framework will be used “from the start” for any counter-drone systems employed in the U.S. Reuters identified the laser used in the February Texas incidents as a LOCUST system built by aerovironment.
Key Claims
- Pentagon and FAA jointly determined counter-drone laser safety controls “do not pose undue risk to passenger aircraft” (joint release)
- March 7–8 White Sands test fired the AMP-HEL at maximum effective range against a decommissioned Boeing 767 fuselage and flew multiple aircraft behind simulated targets (DefenseScoop reporting)
- The AMP-HEL’s automated safety system detected a civilian aircraft approaching an Albuquerque airport miles away from the range and automatically shut down (Col. scott-mclellan)
- In the first February Texas incident, CBP personnel used a Pentagon-loaned laser near El Paso to shoot down an object later identified as Mylar balloons (DefenseScoop)
- In the second incident, soldiers shot down a CBP-operated drone near fort-hancock because CBP failed to notify the military task force (article reporting)
- Reuters identified the border laser as a LOCUST system built by aerovironment (Reuters)
- More than 1,000 drone incursions occur at the southern border per month (military officials)
Notable Quotes
“Following a thorough, data-informed Safety Risk Assessment, we determined that these systems do not present an increased risk to the flying public.” — FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford
“I liken it to the fact that it actually doesn’t ever really want to fire, you almost have to force it to fire, and there has to be multiple things that line up to allow the system to fire.” — Col. scott-mclellan
“It’s clear that in the early implementation of this technology, coordination fell far below what should have happened.” — Sen. ted-cruz