Pentagon, FAA Agree to Anti-Drone Laser Tests

The United States===United States Department of Defense and the United States===Federal Aviation Administration have agreed to conduct joint anti-drone laser tests in New Mexico following two incidents in February where military laser deployments caused sudden airspace closures in Texas. These incidents, which included the accidental shootdown of a United States===United States Customs and Border Protection drone, exposed a significant lack of coordination between the agencies. Lawmakers, including Tammy Duckworth and Ben Ray Luján, expressed concerns and called for investigations. The tests, scheduled at the White Sands Missile Range, aim to address the United States===Federal Aviation Administration's safety concerns and establish a formal coordination framework for future laser deployments, ensuring the safety of the National Airspace System.