The US Army’s Multipurpose High Energy Laser destroyed three cartel-linked drones along the Texas border over two nights, August 25 and 26, 2026, in what officials describe as the system’s first confirmed operational engagement, according to reporting from DroneXL, Unmanned Airspace, and NORTHCOM’s own statement, corroborated by AeroVironment, which confirmed one of its AMP-HEL units was involved.
The engagements took place in airspace over or near the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas and were carried out by Joint Task Force-Southern Border, a roughly 8,000-strong US Northern Command unit. The drones were assessed as hostile because they were operating in direct support of activity posing a physical threat to US military personnel and Customs and Border Protection partners working the area.
Vehicle-Mounted System Produces 20 Kilowatts of Laser Power
AMP-HEL is a vehicle-mounted directed-energy weapon capable of producing 20 kilowatts of laser power, designed for precision engagement of small unmanned aerial threats at a fraction of the cost of a traditional interceptor missile. The military did not specify the exact model variant used in the border engagements.
The successful engagement marks a turnaround for the program, which drew criticism in February after an AMP-HEL unit mistakenly targeted the wrong drone and briefly froze operations at a commercial airport. Border-area counter-drone activity has intensified this year as cartel organizations increasingly use small unmanned aircraft for smuggling and surveillance, prompting expanded federal investment in counter-UAS testing and detection infrastructure.
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