Drone Activity On The Southern Border Appears To Plummet After U.S. Forces Use Laser Weapons To Take Them Down

Since along the southern border, Drone activity in the southern has dropped by as much as 75 percent since the U.S. military has begun using laser weapons systems to target suspicious drones, according to a new report.

CBS News detailed that the laser system shot down three drones near the Rio Grande Valley on August 25 and August 26. Mexican drug cartels had been using drones to probe the southern border, and the U.S. has been taking action against them.

The outlet noted that the military can use jamming tools that force the drones to return to where they came from. However, the laser system allows the military to take them down and has stopped 300 drug cartel drones, with lasers actually taking 11 down.

"When you just send it back and then it comes back up or is defeated temporarily, but the game changer is ensuring that that tool can't be used again against you," Army Col. Robert Felicio, commander of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, told CBS News.

Reuters had previously reported on the deployment and the effectiveness of laser weapons systems against drones.

"Cartel networks are increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate illicit human-smuggling and actively spy on our personnel and law enforcement partners," Major General Curtis Taylor, the commander of Joint Task Force–Southern Border, said in a statement to Reuters.

Laser weapon systems also have been deployed in Europe. Stars and Stripes reported in July that lasers were being deployed in Europe to bolster air defense. The Compact Laser Weapon System was described as a directed-energy weapon that would be part of air defense.

At the time, the European laser system was described as not operating as a standalone weapons system, but rather as an integrated part of a layered defense architecture meant to help meet the evolving challenges of air defense.

"The modern threat has erased the idea of a safe haven," said Col. Victoria Habas, director for integrated air and missile defense planning and programs stated. "Inexpensive and highly adaptable (drone) technology can hold any installation or operating location at risk."

Felicio, told CBS News that the effectiveness of the laser system on the southern border might be having an overall impact on suspicious drone activity in the area. However, Felicio also said the drop in activity could be related to other reasons, such as drug cartels finding alternative routes for illicit activities.