The U.S. military will test a high-energy laser weapon this weekend, designed to disable hostile drones, as unmanned aircraft play an increasingly central role in modern warfare.
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 will conduct the demonstration March 7–8 at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Engineers and defense officials will evaluate how the directed-energy system can counter unmanned aerial systems — commonly known as drones — while safely operating within U.S. civilian airspace.
“This is a critical step in making sure our warfighters have the most advanced tools to defend the homeland,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401, said in a press release.
The test comes as drones dominate battlefields around the world, including the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran known as Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. officials have increasingly warned that small unmanned aircraft systems pose a growing security challenge. Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401, recently described drones as “a defining threat of our time,” noting that the systems are becoming cheaper, more accessible, and increasingly weaponized.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, U.S. Central Command deployed low-cost, one-way attack drones during the operation’s opening phase, marking the first combat use of the system. Iran and its regional allies have also launched large waves of drones and missiles targeting U.S. bases and allied positions across the Middle East.
Modern drone warfare has reshaped military strategy because forces can deploy inexpensive unmanned aircraft in large numbers for surveillance, targeting, and direct attacks.
British Royal Air Force F-35B jets also shot down an Iranian drone during the conflict, marking the first confirmed combat kill for the RAF’s F-35 fleet, as previously reported by DX.
Directed-energy weapons such as high-energy lasers offer a potential countermeasure. Instead of firing missiles, the system focuses concentrated energy on a drone, potentially damaging electronics, sensors, or structural components within seconds.
Researchers at White Sands will examine several key safety and performance factors during the test, including:
- The laser’s effect on aircraft-like targets used as test surrogates
- Automated safety shut-off systems
- Eye-safety risks for pilots and aircrews
- Integration with the national airspace system
Multiple federal agencies will observe the demonstration, including the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the New Mexico National Guard.
Defense officials say the test marks another step in preparing the United States to counter the rapid expansion of drone threats worldwide.
