Technology

US military uses a laser to blast a drone out of the sky on the US-Mexico border — the target belonged to Customs and Border Protection in the friendly fire incident

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Feb 28, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

The US military mistakenly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone with a laser near the US-Mexico border, prompting the closure of airspace in the area. This incident highlights the need for better coordination between military and civilian agencies when using counter-drone systems to avoid friendly fire. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure criticized the Trump administration for its handling of the situation. With the increasing threat of drones, various countries are developing advanced weapons like lasers and AI-powered systems to counter them, emphasizing the importance of proper threat detection to prevent unintended consequences.

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Bluetooth tracker hidden in a postcard and mailed to a warship exposed its location — $5 gadget put a $585 million Dutch ship at risk for 24 hours

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US military uses a laser to blast a drone out of the sky on the US-Mexico border — the target belonged to Customs and Border Protection in the friendly fire incident

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Bluetooth tracker hidden in a postcard and mailed to a warship exposed its location — $5 gadget put a $585 million Dutch ship at risk for 24 hours

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