U.S. Army laser destroys 11 cartel-linked drones at Mexico border

September 4, 2026 at 07:39 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The U.S. Army's AMP-HEL high-energy laser has destroyed 11 cartel-linked drones along the U.S.-Mexico border since entering operations in August, U.S. Northern Command said on September 4, 2026. The system, built by AeroVironment, has moved beyond trials into sustained counter-drone use. The task force has defeated more than 300 drones with kinetic and non-kinetic systems during 2026.

Key Facts

The AMP-HEL laser destroyed 11 cartel-linked drones between August 24 and September 4, 2026.
Joint Task Force–Southern Border defeated more than 300 drones in 2026, including over 100 in August alone.
AeroVironment delivered the first two AMP-HEL prototypes to the U.S. Army in September 2025.
On August 27, the task force reported AMP-HEL had defeated three drones on August 25–26.

Operational Deployment

Joint Task Force–Southern Border first employed AMP-HEL in border protection operations on August 24, 2026. By September 4, the laser had recorded 11 defeats of cartel-linked drones. The task force defeated more than 300 unmanned aerial systems with kinetic and non-kinetic systems during 2026. More than 100 of those defeats occurred in August alone.

Threat Assessment

U.S. Northern Command assessed the drones as connected to illicit operations along the border. Transnational criminal organizations use drones for smuggling support and surveillance of military and law-enforcement personnel. The laser concentrates directed energy on a target to produce a disabling effect. Its engagement capacity is constrained by electrical power, thermal management, atmospheric conditions, and dwell time.