At the Falcon Peak exercise in Arizona, defense firms demonstrated radars, interceptor drones and automated systems. The military reported 378 drone incursions in a 30-day period and said the number was rising.
The US Army is testing technology to detect and intercept drones near the Mexican border. At Falcon Peak, an exercise held in Arizona by US Northern Command, defense companies demonstrated radars, interceptor drones, autonomous weapon systems and other tools designed to detect, track and destroy small unmanned aircraft.
Military officials said drones crossing the southern border are usually commercial models used by criminal groups for surveillance connected to drug smuggling and human trafficking. Brigadier General Brian Filler, deputy commander for operations at Joint Task Force Southern Border, told reporters that the military detected 378 drone incursions in the previous 30 days and that the trend was increasing. Most, he said, carried cameras and were seen alongside cross-border movements.
Earlier this month, the US military said it had shot down 11 cartel drones with lasers since August. Officials stressed that the commercial drones used by cartels are not comparable to sophisticated military systems used in Ukraine or the Middle East. They nevertheless described the border as a useful setting to test equipment and train soldiers outside controlled laboratory conditions.
The exercise also highlighted the Pentagon’s growing interest in venture-backed defense technology companies. Demonstrations included Anduril’s Ghost drone, a radar and camera detection system from Teledyne FLIR, the automated Bullfrog anti-drone gun from Allen Control Systems, and an interceptor drone sold by Powerus.
US military planners are seeking to match the development pace seen in Russia’s war against Ukraine, where both offensive and defensive drone systems have evolved rapidly. Brigadier General Matt Ross said the military should reproduce the ability to adapt technology on a daily or weekly basis.