FORT BLISS, Texas — Joint Task Force–Southern Border (JTF-SB), operating under U.S. Northern Command in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, continues to defeat unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Army Multipurpose High-Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) system was first employed in border protection operations on Aug. 24 and as of Sep. 4, JTF-SB service members defeated 11 cartel-linked UAS using AMP-HEL.
JTF-SB defeated more than 300 UAS this calendar year employing kinetic and non-kinetic systems, with more than 100 defeats occurring in the month of August.
“JTF Southern Border’s combined arms approach and fusion with mission partners is delivering a new layer of homeland defense capability to counter illegal activity on the border,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM. “Frontline troops have the right authorities and are leveraging a highly capable network to thwart threats to the forces conducting the territorial integrity mission.”
The UAS were assessed to be associated with illicit activity along the border. Transnational criminal organizations use UAS to support illegal cross-border activity, including smuggling operations and surveillance of law-enforcement and military personnel.
The Army acquired the AMP-HEL system in September 2025 as part of an effort to develop and field scalable directed-energy capabilities against UAS and other aerial threats. JTF-SB integrated the mobile directed-energy system into its layered defense in August 2026 to help counter threats to personnel and support border-security operations.
The system’s employment demonstrates JTF-SB’s ability to integrate emerging capabilities into ongoing operations and adapt to evolving threats.
More than 8,000 service members are deployed with JTF-SB across terrain spanning approximately 1,954 miles of the southern border. Since assuming the mission in March 2025, JTF-SB personnel have reinforced hundreds of miles of the border with wire obstacles; conducted tens of thousands of detection and monitoring patrols, including patrols conducted in coordination with Mexican military personnel; executed thousands of observation flights; and cleared vegetation in remote areas.
These efforts have enhanced CBP situational awareness, improved response times, and supported efforts to disrupt illicit cross-border activity.
The JTF-SB Media Desk can be reached at JTF-SBMediaDesk@army.mil.