Pentagon, FAA sign safety agreement over counter-drone laser | DefenseScoop
AI Analysis
The Pentagon and FAA have signed a safety agreement regarding the use of the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser for counter-drone operations. This follows successful safety testing demonstrating the laser's automated safety shut-off system and its non-threat to civilian aircraft.
Key Takeaways
- Pentagon and FAA signed a safety agreement on counter-drone laser technology.
- Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser tested at White Sands Missile Range.
- The laser's safety controls were validated, posing no risk to civilian aircraft.
- The agreement sets a framework for future U.S. counter-drone systems.
- Over 1,000 drone incursions occur monthly at the southern U.S. border.
Why It Matters
This agreement marks a significant step in integrating advanced counter-drone technologies into national defense strategies, ensuring airspace safety while addressing emerging drone threats. It highlights the importance of interagency cooperation in developing and deploying effective counter-UAS systems, particularly in high-risk areas like the southern border.
Pentagon, FAA sign safety agreement over counter-drone laser | DefenseScoop
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The Pentagon and Federal Aviation Administration inked an agreement over the use of domestic counter-drone technology, the agencies said in a joint statement Friday, following back-to-back airspace incidents earlier this year and recent laser safety testing.
In March, government officials met at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to test the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser, an evaluation aimed at quelling FAA concerns about the system’s safety and whether it posed a danger to aircraft.
DefenseScoop exclusively reported details of the test last month. At the time, the FAA was notably silent about the results of the evaluation, which defense officials said successfully demonstrated the AMP-HEL’s automated safety shut-off system and lack of damage against civilian airplanes.
Now, and two months after the laser caused dual airspace closures in Texas along the southern border, both agencies are saying the laser’s safety controls work and “do not pose undue risk to passenger aircraft,” according to the joint release.
“Following a thorough, data-informed Safety Risk Assessment, we determined that these systems do not present an increased risk to the flying public,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We will continue working with our interagency partners to ensure the National Airspace System remains safe while addressing emerging drone threats.”
The FAA did not immediately respond to requests for a copy of the deal or additional details about what the agencies described as a “landmark” safety agreement. A spokesperson for JIATF-401 declined to provide the agreement, but said its framework will be used “from the start” for any counter-drone systems employed in the U.S.
“This successful test showcases the significant advancements we’re making in counter-drone technology to ensure that our warfighters have the most advanced tools to defend the homeland,” said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401. He added that coordination between the FAA, military and other interagency partners “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.”
Military officials have said in recent years that there are more than 1,000 drone incursions at the southern border per month. The Trump administration has made combatting what it says are cartel-operated unmanned aerial systems part of its border security mission, and the military has [flowed significant money](https://defensescoop.com/2026/04/10/d