The Army just used a 20-kilowatt laser to take out three drones

The U.S. Army used a 20-kilowatt High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) to destroy three drones that posed a physical threat to U.S. military personnel and Customs and Border Patrol agents near the Rio Grande Valley between August 25 and 26. The operation, led by Joint Task Force Southern Border under U.S. Northern Command, employed the Locust Laser Weapon System, a vehicle-mounted platform delivered by AeroVironment in September and December 2025.