WASHINGTON, Sept 4 - U.S. military officials said on Friday that an Army Multipurpose High-Energy Laser system was used to disable 11 unmanned aerial systems that had been assessed as connected to illicit activity along the U.S.-Mexican border. The strikes occurred after the laser capability was deployed to the southern U.S. border last week as part of a task force initiative operating in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The U.S. Northern Command, known as USNORTHCOM, characterized the targeted aircraft as UAS - unmanned aerial systems - and said the engagements were carried out with the laser system. The command reported that more than 300 drones have been taken down since the start of 2026 through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic systems. USNORTHCOM added that during August alone, in excess of 100 drones were neutralized.
Officials did not disclose the precise locations where the laser strikes occurred, nor did they say whether the engagements took place over U.S. territory or across the border in Mexico. The military statement also did not identify the manufacturer or provider of the laser technology used in the operations.
Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has cautioned that any unilateral movement by U.S. forces onto Mexican soil would constitute a grave breach of her country's sovereignty. Her comments underscore the diplomatic sensitivity around cross-border operations and the lack of public detail about where specific strikes were conducted.
The deployment of the laser system and the tally of systems neutralized were presented by USNORTHCOM as elements of an effort to reduce illicit aerial activity along the southern border. Beyond the immediate numbers, the command framed the actions as part of a broader use of both kinetic and non-kinetic tools in coordination with border enforcement agencies.
While the statement outlines the scale of drone neutralizations since the beginning of 2026 and highlights recent laser engagements, it leaves key particulars unspecified, including exact strike locations and the supplier of the laser equipment employed.
Contextual summary: The U.S. military reports that a deployed Army laser system disabled 11 drones last week as part of task force operations along the southern border, contributing to a total of more than 300 drone neutralizations this year.