The number of suspected cartel-linked drones in the Rio Grande Valley has dropped by 75% since the U.S. military began using high-energy lasers in August 2026, according to military and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources. Officials noted the decrease could be linked to the military’s ability to disable the aircraft, though they also acknowledged cartel operatives may be changing routes or tactics.
Military forces working with U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have defeated 300 suspected cartel drones during the first eight months of 2026. This total includes 100 drones in August, the month the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) system was integrated into the layered defense. The laser system, which the military acquired in 2025, uses an invisible heat beam to disable aircraft, whereas previous electronic warfare systems used jamming to disrupt signals.
On August 25 and 26, 2026, troops used the laser to take down three drones that officials said posed a threat to military and CBP personnel. By September 4, the number of drones removed by the laser reached 11. The Army recently awarded a $465 million production contract to AeroVironment for high-energy laser technology. Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, stated that frontline troops are using the network to thwart threats to the territorial integrity mission.
The deployment affects the approximately 8,000 U.S. service members stationed along the southern border and the CBP agents they support. Officials report that cartels use drones to facilitate human smuggling and drug trafficking. According to 2024 testimony from Guillot, the border sees approximately 1,000 drone incursions per month. The cost of each laser shot is roughly $3, compared to interceptor missiles that can cost millions of dollars, though individual laser units range in price from $17.4 million to $25 million.
Airspace management was affected earlier in 2026 when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly closed airspace near El Paso due to concerns about the laser's impact on civilian aircraft. The FAA and Pentagon have since completed a safety assessment and now coordinate before and after the laser is used. Military officials stated that the laser permanently removes drones from the cartels' inventory, unlike quadcopters that could return to the sky after being jammed.
The military is also coordinating with Mexican officials through mirror operations and information sharing to curb cartel activity on both sides of the border. While the laser is less effective in rain or vapor, the Army’s recent $465 million contract suggests a commitment to high-energy lasers as a component of border security. Following a safety agreement in April 2026, the military will continue using these systems under existing authorities to mitigate aerial threats.