The United States military recently employed a laser weapon system to shoot down drones near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, marking the first operational use of this technology in a combat scenario. The unmanned aerial vehicles were reportedly flying low in support of Mexican drug cartels and posed a physical threat to U.S. military and Customs and Border Protection personnel. Details about the exact location of the engagement, whether over U.S. or Mexican territory, were not disclosed.
The weapon system, known as Locust (Low-Cost UAV Simulation Testing), is a vehicle-mounted directed-energy laser developed by AeroVironment, a defense company based in Arlington, Virginia. The system emits a 20-kilowatt high-energy laser capable of physically burning through drone targets. Locust has been deployed to Texas to support the approximately 8,000-strong Joint Task Force Southern Border. The U.S. Marine Corps also operates the Locust system to defend against small drones, and it has been tested aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during sea trials in October 2025.
The Pentagon, under the leadership of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, is investing roughly $1 billion this year into a variety of directed-energy weapons, which have been in development for more than two decades. The military views these systems as a cost-effective alternative to traditional interceptors, which can cost millions of dollars to counter relatively inexpensive drones. In comparison, each laser shot costs only a few dollars, presenting a significant potential for operational savings.
Other countries are also advancing laser weapon technologies. The United Kingdom is developing the DragonFire laser, expected to equip Royal Navy warships by 2027. China has deployed truck-mounted laser weapons and mounted such systems on naval vessels. Russia has tested portable anti-drone lasers in combat, while Israel’s 100-kilowatt Iron Beam laser reportedly intercepted drones launched by Hezbollah in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Despite the promising capabilities, directed-energy weapons face technical challenges. Weather conditions can interfere with laser accuracy and tracking, a limitation that currently cannot be mitigated. Additionally, power supply constraints remain an obstacle, especially for naval applications, as maintaining stable, high-power laser output over extended periods is demanding.
Looking ahead, the U.S. Department of Defense aims to develop even more powerful laser systems capable of neutralizing larger threats such as cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles. The Pentagon's Scaled Directed-Energy Critical Technology Areas (Scade CTA) program is working toward lasers ranging from 150 to 500 kilowatts. While the adoption of directed-energy weapons is still evolving, the Pentagon emphasizes their role in redefining defense by providing scalable precision and cost efficiency to address emerging threats.
In May 2026, former President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image of a U.S. warship firing a laser at a drone emblazoned with an Iranian flag, accompanied by the caption “Lasers: Bing, Bing, GONE!!!” However, there has been no official confirmation of such an event occurring this year. Experts note the significance of continued research and development to overcome current limitations and fully integrate laser weapons into future warfare.