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Posted on 02/13/2026 3:17:06 PM PST by Twotone
An AeroVironment LOCUST laser directed energy weapon owned by the U.S. Army was central to the chain of events that led to the recent shutdown of airspace around El Paso, Texas, according to Reuters. Though many questions still remain to be answered about how the flight restrictions came to be imposed, LOCUST was designed to respond to exactly the kinds of drones that regularly fly across the southern border from Mexico.
Multiple outlets had already reported yesterday that the use of a laser counter-drone system was a key factor in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) sudden decision to impose the temporary flight restrictions over El Paso. Reuters‘ report says “two people briefed on the situation” identified the laser system in question as LOCUST. TWZ has reached out to AeroVironment and the U.S. Army for more information. U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in and around the homeland, declined to comment.
Last July, the U.S. military released a picture, seen below, showing Army personnel assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) conducting sling-load training with a LOCUST mounted on a 4×4 M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) at Fort Bliss. This had prompted some speculation that LOCUST systems might be in use along the U.S. border with Mexico. JTF-SB was established in March 2025 to oversee a surge in U.S. military support to the border security mission. Fort Bliss, situated in El Paso, is a major hub for those operations. It is also home to the 1st Armored Division and a significant number of Army air defense units.
(Excerpt) Read more at twz.com ...
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What does the upper windshield look like?
Would like to see what a 300kw laser would do mounted on a c130 “spooky”....
They really just need to weaponize this guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBVlL0FNbSE
I looked into it, that’s all the windshield they get. Interestingly the vehicle is based on the Chevy Colorado and 90% of it’s parts are commercially available.
I want this vehicle just for deer hunting.
Buy a green used Chevy Colorado ZR2, take the doors off, trim the windshield in half, off road bumper. Experiment.
See post 7
The speed of light is not just a good idea.......
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