Overview
- U.S. Northern Command and the Joint Task Force–South reported they neutralized over 300 unauthorized drones in 2026, with more than 100 of those taken down in August.
- The Army’s AMP‑HEL high‑energy laser was deployed to border operations in late August and U.S. officials credit it with neutralizing 11 drones linked to criminal activity so far.
- U.S. forces are using a mix of responses to drones, including directed‑energy weapons, signal‑interference tools and kinetic measures such as small arms fire and interceptors.
- Mexico says it coordinates with the United States through intelligence sharing and 'operaciones espejo,' fields 165 anti‑drone systems on its northern border and has no current plans to buy the AMP‑HEL laser.
- Both countries maintain large troop deployments along the frontier and officials note gaps in public detail on exact strike locations and specific cartel attributions, a transparency shortfall that could affect future cooperation and oversight.