The U.S. Army conducted an operational deployment of AeroVironment Inc.'s LOCUST laser counter-drone weapon system near El Paso International Airport, producing an interruption to commercial air service that lasted more than seven hours, two people briefed on the situation said.
The direct-energy weapon involved is a 20-kilowatt LOCUST laser. Its employment in the vicinity of the airport - with the system located at Fort Bliss, which sits adjacent to the airport - prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt flights into and out of the Texas border city for the duration of the safety review.
Officials described the LOCUST as an example of advanced counter-drone technology capable of neutralizing airborne threats at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptor missiles. The weapon’s use in this setting had not been previously reported.
AeroVironment and Pentagon representatives did not immediately provide comment when asked about the deployment.
The United States has been pursuing options that can defeat drones safely and affordably, especially in locations where civilian air traffic or large public gatherings create potential hazard zones. The urgency around such systems has been emphasized in connection with several upcoming events this year that elevate concern about drone risks.
On the southern border, Pentagon reporting indicates that more than 1,000 drone sightings occur monthly. That operational environment has driven interest in layered counter-drone defenses, including advocacy among defense experts for integrating such capabilities into broader missile and air defense initiatives along the border.
AeroVironment, a Virginia-based manufacturer of drones and counter-drone systems, delivered its first two LOCUST units to the U.S. Army in September 2024 under the Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototyping program. Before those deliveries, the systems underwent testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Army personnel later received training on the equipment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Defense specialists have suggested that counter-drone layers could be incorporated into larger initiatives to protect critical infrastructure and border regions from small unmanned aircraft used for surveillance or attacks.
Summary
The Army’s use of AeroVironment’s 20-kilowatt LOCUST laser near El Paso led to an FAA suspension of commercial flights for more than seven hours while officials addressed potential risks to aviation. The system was one of the first delivered to the Army in September 2024 and has been tested and fielded through a Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototyping effort.