A test of a Pentagon-developed laser weapon system by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday, February 9th, initially identified as a shoot-down of drug cartel drones, was later determined to have targeted metallic party balloons, according to sources within the Department of Defense. The incident occurred just hours before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily closed airspace within an 11-mile radius of El Paso International Airport.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had approved the temporary loan of a 20-kilowatt directed-energy LOCUST laser weapon to CBP for testing at the Fort Bliss installation, which borders Mexico, according to the Wall Street Journal. The test was conducted without prior coordination with the FAA, triggering a response that involved the White House and members of Congress.
The incident unfolded as the Pentagon is moving to empower local commanders to defend against unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threats within the United States. Last Tuesday, the DoD released a Fact Sheet outlining updated counter-UAS policy, stating, “Our message is clear, Department of War (DoW) airspace is off limits, and our commanders on the ground have the discretion to defend our airspace against all manner of UAS threats.” The guidance expands the authority of commanders to take defensive actions beyond installation perimeters to protect facilities and assets.
The policy shift comes in response to a growing concern over the weaponization of drones by criminal organizations and potential adversaries. A June 2025 Executive Order issued by President Trump, titled “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” highlighted the use of UAS by drug cartels to smuggle fentanyl, deliver contraband into prisons, and surveil law enforcement. The order too cited vulnerabilities at mass gatherings and critical infrastructure, including military bases.
In response to the Executive Order, the FBI established the National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, in December 2025. The NCUTC provides training to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies on drone detection, identification, threat assessment, and coordinated response procedures. The FBI emphasizes that offensive actions against drones are only authorized when legally permissible, acknowledging the complexity of regulations governing drone operations.
Alongside the NCUTC’s establishment, the Pentagon moved to consolidate counter-drone efforts through the creation of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) in August 2025, replacing the Joint C-sUAS Office. JIATF 401, operating under the Secretary of the Army, is designed to streamline governance, enhance collaboration, and accelerate the delivery of innovative counter-UAS solutions. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, JIATF 401 Director, recently visited the FBI’s NCUTC to discuss security preparations for the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in eleven U.S. Cities this summer.
Concerns over the reliance on foreign-made drones and components have also prompted action from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Citing a National Security Determination from the White House, the FCC updated its “Covered List” in December 2023 to prohibit the import of UAS and UAS components produced in foreign countries deemed to pose unacceptable risks to U.S. National security. The restrictions do not affect previously purchased drones or ongoing sales of models approved prior to 2025.
The Pentagon has initiated the “Drone Dominance Program,” a four-phase effort to field one-way attack drones and increase the production of small, inexpensive UAS. As part of this program, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded BAE Systems a $145 million contract in February 2026 for the development, manufacturing, and delivery of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems weapon systems. Twenty-five vendors are currently competing for $150 million in delivery orders during the first phase of the program, known as “the Gauntlet,” which began February 18th at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Pentagon anticipates fielding hundreds of thousands of “weaponized, one way attack drones ready for combat” by 2027.
The Senate Armed Services Committee had scheduled a meeting last Thursday with Owen O. West, DoD Senior Advisor for Drone Dominance, and Travis Metz, Drone Dominance Program Manager, but the meeting was canceled at the last minute.
