Summary
AeroVironment's LOCUST, a laser weapon, caused El Paso's airspace to be shut down temporarily. The U.S. Army is interested in using this technology to tackle drones efficiently. The Federal Aviation Administration took the action due to concerns over a lack of coordination when deploying the weapon.
Key Facts
- AeroVironment's LOCUST is a 20-kilowatt laser system.
- It was used in El Paso, leading to the airspace being shut down for nearly eight hours.
- The FAA closed the airspace because the weapon was fired without enough prior coordination.
- Officials initially claimed a "cartel drone incursion" required a military response.
- The weapon is owned by the military but was fired by Customs and Border Protection.
- There are questions about whether there was actually a drone "incursion."
- LOCUST was developed by BlueHalo and acquired by AeroVironment.
- The Pentagon invests heavily in directed-energy weapons, but widespread use is still limited.
