Pentagon Reports 300 Border Drone Defeats, Raises Concerns Over Unidentified Targets and Coordination
The Pentagon's Joint Task Force-Southern Border has reported over 300 drone defeats along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2026, with 11 attributed to the AMP-HEL laser system. Despite this, only two targets have been publicly identified: Mylar party balloons and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone. The CBP drone was reportedly destroyed on February 26 near Fort Hancock, Texas, after CBP had not informed the military of its flight. This incident, along with another on February 10 involving Mylar balloons near Fort Bliss, led to airspace closures and flight diversions. Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and André Carson, leading Democrats on House transportation, homeland security, and aviation panels, criticized the administration in February for not addressing counter-drone coordination. Senator Tammy Duckworth requested an investigation into these incidents and the risks posed to civilian aircraft, but no public report has emerged. The FAA has since cleared military lasers for use in U.S...
