The Army just used a 20-kilowatt laser to take out three drones
The Army just used a 20-kilowatt laser to take out three drones
美国陆军刚刚使用 20 千瓦激光击落了三架无人机
This week, the US Army used a high-energy multipurpose laser to shoot down three drones near the US-Mexico border, which official reports claimed were “posing a physical threat to US military personnel and CBP partners,” referring to Customs and Border Patrol.
本周，美国陆军在美墨边境附近使用高能多用途激光击落了三架无人机。官方报告称，这些无人机“对美国军事人员及海关和边境保护局（CBP）的合作伙伴构成了人身威胁”。
The operation took place between the night of August 25 and the early morning of August 26 in the vicinity of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and was led by the Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), which operates under US Northern Command.
此次行动于 8 月 25 日晚至 8 月 26 日凌晨在德克萨斯州格兰德河谷附近进行，由隶属于美国北方司令部的南部边境联合特遣部队（JTF-SB）领导。
Authorities confirmed that, during the operation, agents used technology derived from the Army’s High-Energy Multipurpose Laser (AMP-HEL) system, a military program focused on implementing high-energy lasers for new defense capabilities.
当局证实，在行动中，特工使用了源自陆军“高能多用途激光”（AMP-HEL）系统的技术，该军事项目旨在部署高能激光以实现新的防御能力。
Available information suggests that this initiative began in September 2025, when AeroVironment, a company specializing in defense technology, delivered the first two functional prototypes of these laser-based weapons to the US Armed Forces. Two new, improved systems were delivered as the program was expanded in December of the same year.
现有信息显示，该计划始于 2025 年 9 月，当时国防技术公司 AeroVironment 向美军交付了首批两台激光武器功能原型机。随着该项目在同年 12 月的扩大，又交付了两套新的改进型系统。
According to the manufacturer, this particular platform, called the Locust Laser Weapon System, is designed to be mounted on military vehicles, as the Army has done with the versions it has received. Operating at 20 kilowatts, the Locust system relies on an extremely concentrated beam of light that, in various phases, allows for the detection, tracking, illumination, damaging, or destruction of targets at a distance.
据制造商称，这种被称为“蝗虫”（Locust）的激光武器系统平台旨在安装在军用车辆上，陆军收到的版本也正是这样配置的。Locust 系统以 20 千瓦的功率运行，依靠极度集中的光束，在不同阶段实现对目标的远程探测、跟踪、照射、损坏或摧毁。
Locust and other high-energy laser (HEL) systems typically use sensors, cameras, radars, or other means to locate an object. Once identified, the system focuses the light beam on the target with great precision, even when it is moving. It then uses an additional electrical energy charge to increase the beam’s power and convert it into heat. This ultimately damages or disables the drone, the exact outcomes depending on factors such as distance, exposure time, and the target’s characteristics.
Locust 和其他高能激光（HEL）系统通常使用传感器、摄像头、雷达或其他手段来定位物体。一旦识别出目标，系统就会以极高的精度将光束聚焦在目标上，即使目标处于移动状态。随后，它会利用额外的电能来增加光束功率并将其转化为热能。这最终会损坏或瘫痪无人机，具体结果取决于距离、照射时间和目标特性等因素。
In addition, Locust’s most recent versions—such as the one delivered to the military last December—include radar and command-and-control systems. These make it easier to integrate the weapon into a more complex mobile defense platform, rather than using it as a standalone device.
此外，Locust 的最新版本（例如去年 12 月交付给军方的版本）还包括雷达和指挥控制系统。这些系统使其更容易集成到更复杂的移动防御平台中，而不是作为单一设备使用。
The exact location of the operation remains unknown. Nor is there any concrete information regarding the origin of the neutralized drones or the entities responsible for their operation. However, Curtis Taylor, commander of JTF-SB, suggested that the aircraft could be linked to criminal cells involved in drug trafficking and operations in Mexican territory.
行动的具体地点尚不清楚。关于被击落无人机的来源或负责操作它们的实体，也没有任何确切信息。然而，JTF-SB 指挥官柯蒂斯·泰勒（Curtis Taylor）表示，这些飞行器可能与在墨西哥境内从事毒品走私和相关活动的犯罪团伙有关。
“Cartel networks are increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate illicit human smuggling and actively spy on our personnel and law enforcement partners. By integrating layered countermeasures alongside advanced directed-energy capabilities like this laser system, we have made it clear that we will not tolerate hostile surveillance. We also greatly appreciate the support of our Mexican Army partners as we work together to combat this threat to the border region,” the major-general stated in a press release.
“贩毒集团网络正越来越多地利用无人机系统来协助非法人口走私，并积极监视我们的人员和执法合作伙伴。通过将分层反制措施与像这种激光系统一样的先进定向能能力相结合，我们明确表示不会容忍敌对监视。我们也衷心感谢墨西哥陆军合作伙伴的支持，我们将共同努力打击这一对边境地区的威胁，”这位少将在新闻稿中表示。
The official statement also does not specify the exact models from the AMP-HEL program that were used in the operation. However, the international press has linked the action to the campaign against illegal immigration and drug cartels that President Donald Trump has been waging since he began his second term.
官方声明也没有具体说明行动中使用了 AMP-HEL 项目中的哪些具体型号。然而，国际媒体已将此次行动与唐纳德·特朗普总统自开启第二个任期以来所开展的打击非法移民和贩毒集团的行动联系起来。
During his election campaign, Trump promised to combat both issues by implementing drastic measures, especially along the US-Mexico border. To that end, his administration has deployed a wide variety of technologies, HEL systems being just part of the growing toolkit.
在竞选期间，特朗普承诺通过实施严厉措施来解决这两个问题，特别是在美墨边境。为此，他的政府部署了多种技术，而高能激光（HEL）系统只是其不断扩大的工具箱中的一部分。