Drone-killing laser weapons greenlit for use in US airspace FAA and Defense Department say high-energy weapons are ready to protect all air travelers
from illicit drone use despite airspace restrictions and friendly-fire incidents

Date:
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:05:00 +0000

Description:
FFA approval of drone-killing high-energy laser weapons presents minimal risk to aircraft.

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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter FAA approves laser weapons for anti-drone operations in US airspace High-energy weapons "do not present an increased risk" Approval follows multiple airspace closures due to unapproved weapons firing The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of drone-killing high-energy lasers in US airspace, according to the New York Times .

The decision came on Friday after a two-month deliberation on the potential dangers the weapons could cause to aircraft in airspace protected by lasers. Despite airspace closures to shoot down balloons and a friendly-fire incident involving a Customs and Border Protection drone, FAA testing has determined that these systems do not present an increased risk to the flying public. Article continues below You may like Forget lasers and missiles, China wants to kill drones using a common tech households use everyday in kitchens all around the world invisible microwave weapons can fry electronics but still require line-of-sight and proximity 'The new era of Infinite Flight begins': Novel tech can wireless charge drones almost 2Km away using a kilowatt-class laser and a lightweight charger Could Ukrainian drones replace DJI in the US? Anti-drone laser weapons approved for US airspace The FAA approval doesnt
note any determinations on if the weapons posed zero risk to aircraft, but instead stated that if the weapons did happen to come into contact with an aircraft, the damage would be minimal - which is hardly reassuring.

Additionally, pilots flying within airspaces protected by laser weapons will be issued an advisory by the FAA.

The FAA has had several moments of conflict with the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security after high-energy lasers were used without
FAA approval, leading to two airspace shutdowns over El Paso and Fort Hancock in Texas.

The first incident, on February 10 2026, saw Customs and Border Protection shoot down a metallic balloon using a high-energy laser weapon on loan from the Pentagon. The FAA immediately put into place an airspace closure up to 18,000 feet over El Paso for 10 days, but the restrictions were lifted just a few hours later under pressure from the White House. A senior aide to President Donald Trump labelled the incident as an FAA f**k-up . Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Then, on February 26, a second incident saw high-energy laser weapons fired
at a seemingly threatening drone flying within the vicinity of the US-Mexico border, which resulted in the FAA having to close the airspace around Fort Hancock. The drone was successfully brought down, but was later found to have been flown by the Customs and Border Protection.

Both incidents brought to light a lack of concern for the regulations surrounding the new laser deployments. The Pentagon is required by federal
law to coordinate with the Transportation Department and the FAA before using new anti-drone technology.

Following the agreement between the FAA and the Defense Department, US Army Brigadier General Matt Ross said, By working hand-in-hand with the FAA and
our interagency partners, the Department of War is proving that these cutting-edge capabilities are safe, effective, and ready to protect all air travelers from illicit drone use in the national airspace.

Sensing that the FAA may have been pressured into approving the technology
for use, Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, who is one of the heads on the committee that oversees aviation, has requested that both the Pentagon and FFA present a briefing on how the agreement was made. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/drone-killing-laser-weapons-greenlit-for-use-in- us-airspace-faa-and-defense-department-say-high-energy-weapons-are-ready-to-pr otect-all-air-travelers-from-illicit-drone-use-despite-airspace-restrictions-a nd-friendly-fire-incidents


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