Pentagon And FAA Collaborate On Safety Limits For Directed Energy Technology

The Pentagon and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are planning to conduct tests in New Mexico of a high-energy laser designed to counter drones. The testing, scheduled for White Sands Missile Range, aims to determine if the US military can use directed-energy counter-drone technology without creating unacceptable risk for civil aviation. The move comes after recent incidents in Texas exposed coordination problems among federal agencies, prompting the FAA to update internal air traffic procedures. According to AeroTime, the goal is to create a framework that would let the FAA clear the technology for use without having to approve each deployment individually.