Military officials announced Friday they will partner with the Federal Aviation Administration this weekend to test powerful laser weapons designed to neutralize dangerous drones in New Mexico.
According to Pentagon officials, the upcoming trials will focus on addressing aviation safety issues while collecting information about how the laser technology affects aircraft stand-ins, testing automated safety shutdown mechanisms, and evaluating potential risks to pilot vision.
The joint testing follows an incident on February 25 when military personnel mistakenly destroyed a government drone using their laser-based defense system. That mishap led aviation authorities to broaden the no-fly zone around Fort Hancock, Texas, after the FAA had initially grounded all aircraft at El Paso’s airport for 10 days on February 18, though officials reversed that decision within eight hours.
In a Friday interview, U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steve Bradbury explained the testing aims to help the FAA understand the laser system’s constraints and how operators can modify and manage the technology.
Bradbury emphasized that aviation officials want to establish protocols ensuring airspace safety when these systems operate, eliminating the need for case-by-case approvals.
“If we don’t have that we’ll need to close airspace or at least restrict airspace as necessary,” Bradbury explained, noting they are rushing to finish their safety evaluation. “They have a critically important job to do and we have a critically important job to do and we need to coordinate so both jobs are getting done.”
Following a classified briefing Wednesday, congressional members highlighted the need for better inter-agency communication regarding these incidents.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz noted the challenges, saying “It’s clear that there were real challenges in terms of operationalizing counter-drone technology.”
