Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and reading about the latest news from the US-Mexico border, and I have to say, it’s quite the story. The US military used a laser to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones in southern Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. I mean, who needs a sci-fi movie when you have real-life lasers taking down drones, right?
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command said the operation took place late Tuesday and early Wednesday, and they used the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser. I’m no expert, but it sounds like some pretty cool tech. The military didn’t specify the location of the strikes, but Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has made it clear that any unilateral US action on Mexican soil would be a big no-no.
The drones apparently posed a “physical threat” to US military and US Customs and Border Protection personnel. I can understand why they’d want to take them down. Major General Curtis Taylor, the commander of Joint Task Force–Southern Border, said that cartel networks are increasingly using drones to facilitate human-smuggling and spy on personnel. It’s a pretty serious situation.
The US President’s administration is trying to crack down on immigration and cartels, and this latest development is part of that effort. Since its establishment in 2025, the border task force has conducted tens of thousands of detection and monitoring patrols and thousands of observation flights. That’s a lot of activity.
The military didn’t specify the manufacturer of the laser system, but AeroVironment Inc delivered its first two multi-purpose high-energy lasers to the US Army last summer. The US Army has previously deployed AeroVironment Inc’s LOCUST system, which led to a seven-hour airspace shutdown near Texas’ El Paso International Airport earlier this year. I guess that’s what happens when you’re testing out new tech.
There have been some mishaps, though. In February, the military accidentally shot down a US government drone using a laser-based anti-drone system. Whoops. US security officials have expressed concern about the use of drones by Mexican cartels, which mostly employ off-the-shelf models to drop drug packages or surveil trafficking routes. It’s a cat-and-mouse game, really.
In parts of Mexico farther from the US border, cartels have used drones to drop explosives in deadly attacks. It’s a serious situation, and US and Mexican authorities are working together to combat the rise of drones in the border region. I just hope they can get a handle on it before things get out of hand.
In conclusion, it’s been an interesting week for news from the US-Mexico border. Lasers, drones, and cartels – it’s like something out of a action movie. But in all seriousness, it’s a complex issue that requires careful attention and cooperation between authorities. And on a lighter note, I’m just glad I didn’t spill my coffee while reading about all this drama.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
