Pentagon, FAA to Test Counter-Drone Laser in New Mexico after Texas Incidents

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 followed a more chaotic episode earlier in February when Customs and Border Protection used a classified laser system near El Paso without FAA approval, mistaking party balloons for cartel drones. The FAA abruptly closed El Paso airspace for 10 days then reversed course after eight hours without notifying local officials, the White House, or Pentagon leadership.

"We have a critically important job to do and we need to coordinate so both jobs are getting done," said Deputy Transportation Secretary Steve Bradbury, emphasizing the need for a safety framework that doesn't require case-by-case approvals. Sen. Ted Cruz noted after a classified briefing that "it's clear there were real challenges in terms of operationalizing counter-drone technology."