US Army’s Xbox-operated laser disables cartel drones, reduces drone flights by 75%

The US Army’s high-energy laser has destroyed 11 suspected cartel-linked drones in 10 days, contributing to a reported 75% decline in drone activity across the Rio Grande Valley, according to military officials. Deployed along the US-Mexico border on August 25, the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser allows soldiers to physically disable drones that may be monitoring military and law-enforcement positions. Unlike jamming, which can merely force an aircraft to retreat, the laser ensures that the same drone cannot return on another surveillance flight. Laser destroys 11 drones in 10 days US forces have stopped around 300 drones allegedly linked to cartels since the beginning of 2026. Most were intercepted through electronic jamming, but the military has now turned to directed energy when it considers an aircraft an immediate threat. “When you just send it back and then it comes back up or is defeated temporarily, but the game changer is ensuring that that tool can’t be used again against you,” said Army Col. Robert Felicio, commander of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Cartels reportedly fly small quadcopters across the border to locate US troops and law-enforcement officers. This surveillance can help smugglers identify areas with fewer personnel when moving people or drugs. Soldiers had tracked one drone flying past the same Rio Grande Valley overlook three times before CBS News visited the location. Destroying such aircraft prevents their operators from repeatedly using them to gather information. Felicio said drone activity had changed significantly after the weapon entered operation. However, the military did not release its daily detection figures, leaving the reported 75% reduction without a publicly available baseline. Xbox controller guides $3 laser shots The vehicle-mounted weapon is an Army version of AeroVironment’s LOCUST counter system. Soldiers inside the vehicle track targets through a camera feed displayed on a tablet-like screen and operate the weapon using an Xbox controller. During a demonstration near the border wall, troops launched a small quadcopter over an empty field and targeted it with the laser. The beam itself was invisible, with only a brief flash appearing at the point of impact. The recovered aircraft had a damaged propeller and had lost its battery, although its main structure remained identifiable. AeroVironment estimates that each laser engagement costs approximately $3. The weapon itself is considerably more expensive, with individual systems estimated to cost between $17.4 million and $25 million. Weather limits directed-energy weapon The laser is not suited to every operating condition. Rain, vapor and other atmospheric interference can scatter the beam, reducing the amount of energy reaching a drone. Using the weapon near civilian aircraft also requires careful coordination. Military officials said they regularly work with the Federal Aviation Administration and check its requirements before and after every laser engagement. The measures followed earlier concerns surrounding military laser operations near civilian airspace. The FAA temporarily closed airspace around El Paso in February after the system targeted objects later identified as metallic balloons. Officials did not reveal whether the 11 drones destroyed in the latest operations had fallen inside the United States or Mexico. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.