Lasers down 11 cartel drones along southern border, US military says
U.S. Northern Command said the laser system targeted drones linked to illicit activity, part of more than 100 takedowns in August, officials said.
- Northern Command forces downed 11 cartel-linked drones last week using the Army Multipurpose High-Energy Laser system in the Rio Grande Valley, with officials assessing the unmanned systems as associated with illicit activity.
- Criminal groups across Latin America use inexpensive commercial drones costing $600 to $1,200 for surveillance and drug trafficking, with more than 27,000 incursions reported near the southern border in 2024.
- About 8,000 service members assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border have downed more than 300 drones since 2026 began using "kinetic and non-kinetic systems", while Northern Command characterized targeted drones as "hostile" for threatening personnel.
- Mexico's Defense Ministry reports maintaining "mirror operations" since February 2025 to disrupt trafficking, though the mistaken downing of a CBP drone near Fort Hancock raised coordination concerns between military and federal agencies.
- Sociologist Rodrigo Peña notes that technological innovation challenges traditional ideas of state authority, as President Claudia Sheinbaum warned any unilateral U.S. action on Mexican soil would breach sovereignty.
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38 Articles
Through anti-drones technology, including sophisticated laser systems, the U.S. government prevents suspicious drones from entering the southern border
The U.S. Armed Forces have knocked down 11 drones of cartels using lasers since they installed technology along the Mexican border last week, U.S. authorities said this Friday.
The United States shot down more than 100 drones on the border with Mexico during August. Authorities link them to activities of criminal groups.
Since the beginning of 2026, the United States military has neutralized more than 300 drug cartel drones on the border with Mexico, reported to the North Command (NORTHCOM) and clarified that over 100 interceptions had taken place in August alone, transmitting to RIA News. "In this calendar year, JTF-SB neutralized more than 300 unmanned aerial systems using kinetic and non-kinetic means, with more than 100 interceptions coming in August", a pre…
Fox News reported that the Joint Task Force on the Southern Border shot down about 100 drones allegedly from cartels only during August.
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