The United States defence department’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a high-energy laser test on March 7-8, to ensure counter-drone technologies are safely integrated into the national airspace.
The test was organised specifically to address FAA safety concerns while gathering data about the laser’s material effects on aircraft surrogates, validating the functionality of automated safety shut-off systems, and informing analyses for aircrew eye safety.
It comes on the heels of reports that the US military made contact with a drone that was being operated by US Customs and Border Protection, which led lawmakers to criticise the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security and the FAA. This incident followed the closure of El Paso airspace due to another incident, which has been attributed to cartel drones, the counter-drone tech deployed to defeat them, and even party balloons.
Representatives from the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, DHS, Customs and Border Protection and the New Mexico National Guard were reported to be in attendance at the March 7-8 test at White Sands Missile Range.
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United States defence department
Image: US defence department photo by US Air Force 2nd Lt. Maria Grace from an earlier exercise
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