The Pentagon and FAA will test a high-energy laser against drones at White Sands Missile Range over the weekend. The Pentagon's Joint Interagency Task Force 401, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, is set to test a high-energy laser system against drones this weekend at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The March 7-8 demonstration aims to address FAA safety concerns following two February incidents along the Texas border that prompted abrupt airspace closures and exposed significant coordination failures between federal agencies. The test will gather data on the laser's effects on aircraft surrogates, validate automatic safety shut-off functions, and inform eye safety analyses for aircrews. "By working hand-in-hand with the FAA and our interagency partners, we are ensuring that these cutting-edge capabilities are safe, effective, and ready to protect Americans from emerging drone threats," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401. The exercise comes after the military errantly shot down a government drone with a laser system on February 25, prompting the FAA to expand restricted airspace around Fort Hancock, Texas. That incident fol...