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A U.S. Army counter-drone system test triggered a confusing airspace closure around El Paso International Airport last week, highlighting both communication failures between federal agencies and the military’s ongoing struggle to develop effective drone defense technologies. The incident involved a LOCUST laser system manufactured by AeroVironment Inc., deployed by the Department of Homeland Security from a site in New Mexico.
Communication Breakdown Causes Confusion
The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly closed El Paso’s airspace on Tuesday for “special security reasons,” initially scheduling the restriction to last 10 days. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed the closure resulted from a Mexican drug cartel drone entering U.S. airspace, stating the threat was “neutralized” when the restriction lifted hours later. However, officials familiar with the situation pointed to DHS testing of counter-drone technology as the actual cause, with the FAA concerned about potential safety impacts on civilian aircraft.
The lack of coordination between government agencies became evident when White House and Texas state officials appeared surprised by the airspace closure. The incident exposed serious gaps in inter-agency communication, particularly when testing military technology near civilian infrastructure.
Pentagon’s Counter-Drone Technology Challenge
The El Paso incident underscores a deeper challenge facing the Pentagon: developing cost-effective systems to counter increasingly sophisticated drone threats. The military has invested years in directed-energy weapons, including high-powered microwaves and high-energy lasers, aiming to save expensive missiles for more complex threats. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the department to pursue “drone dominance” by accelerating production and procurement of counter-drone technologies.
The LOCUST system at the center of the El Paso incident represents one promising approach. The technology combines a laser system with AI-powered tracking that can identify and target drones up to two miles away. AeroVironment has delivered more than a dozen LOCUST systems with 20kW lasers to the U.S. Army, including two mounted on GM Defense-made Infantry Squad Vehicles last summer.
Battlefield Reality vs. Test Performance
Despite promising test results, the military’s counter-drone systems have struggled in real-world conditions. The Army’s attempt to field a 50kW laser weapon on Stryker combat vehicles illustrates this challenge. While the system performed well in U.S. desert test environments, its reliability failed when deployed to the Middle East for evaluation, with maintenance proving difficult in field conditions.
These setbacks occur as drone warfare takes center stage in conflicts like Russia-Ukraine, where inexpensive off-the-shelf technology challenges multi-million dollar weapons systems. Along the U.S.-Mexico border, transnational criminal organizations increasingly use drones for surveillance and smuggling operations, according to Bella Grabowski of the America First Policy Institute.
What’s Next
The El Paso incident reveals that even as the Pentagon accelerates counter-drone technology development, significant challenges remain in both the technology itself and coordination between agencies testing these systems. The military continues working to find solutions that can withstand harsh battlefield environments while industry ramps up production capacity to meet growing demand for effective drone defense systems.
Sources: Mexiconewsdaily, Financialpost
