US Military Laser Accidentally Downs Border Patrol Drone
▼ Summary
– The US military mistakenly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone near the Mexican border using a high-energy laser anti-drone system.
– The incident involved a failure of coordination, as the Defense Department did not realize the drone was a CBP asset and had not coordinated with the FAA.
– This follows a similar February incident where CBP, using military-loaned technology, mistakenly fired a laser at a party balloon, thinking it was a drone.
– In both laser strike cases, the technology was used without FAA approval, which aviation experts consider a violation of the law.
– Democratic lawmakers, like Senator Tammy Duckworth, have criticized the administration’s handling of the incidents and called for an independent investigation.
A recent incident along the U.S.-Mexico border highlights a significant breakdown in interagency coordination, where a U.S. military laser system accidentally destroyed a Customs and Border Protection drone. This event underscores the operational risks and communication failures that can occur when deploying advanced counter-drone technologies in complex airspace. The drone was conducting routine surveillance missions to monitor border crossings when it was misidentified and engaged.
According to reports, Pentagon personnel utilized a high-energy laser weapon to neutralize what they classified as an unknown drone in the vicinity of Fort Hancock, Texas. The area is known for frequent incursions by drones operated by Mexican drug cartels, which likely contributed to the misidentification. Officials stated the Defense Department was unaware the aircraft belonged to CBP at the time of the engagement and had not coordinated the laser’s use with the Federal Aviation Administration beforehand.
The precise timeline of the event remains unclear. While the FAA instituted temporary flight restrictions for special security reasons in the area on a Thursday, effective until June 24, some reports indicate the strike may have occurred the prior Wednesday. What is evident is a critical lack of procedural communication. Military units operating the laser system were not informed by CBP about the drone’s launch, leading them to treat it as a potential threat. Similarly, the Pentagon did not seek necessary approvals from the FAA, a step many aviation safety experts argue is legally required for such actions.
This is not an isolated case of laser deployment causing disruption. Merely two weeks earlier, the FAA had to abruptly close airspace over El Paso, Texas, for several hours, resulting in canceled flights. In that February incident, the roles were reversed: CBP personnel, using a military-loaned laser system to combat drug smuggling, fired at an object they believed was a drone. The target was later determined to be a simple party balloon. In both episodes, the lasers were operated without FAA approval, raising serious legal and safety concerns.
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, condemned what she described as administrative incompetence creating chaos in national airspace. She emphasized that the pattern of events is alarming and necessitates a comprehensive, independent investigation to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safe integration of new defense systems.
(Source: Ars Technica)
