According to congressional aides and US lawmakers, a US Customs and Border Protection drone mistakenly shot down a US military laser-based counter-drone system near Fort Hancock, Texas. This incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to expand flight restrictions along the US-Mexico border.
The United Kingdom has issued a new warning to Russia after a Russian intelligence-gathering vessel, the Yantar, allegedly directed light lasers at Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots during surveillance operations off the coast of Scotland. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the incident occurred as UK aircraft and vessels were tracking Yantar's movements.
The UK has awarded MBDA UK a £316 million contract to deliver DragonFire laser weapon systems to the Royal Navy from 2027. Following successful trials, the system destroyed high-speed drones at speeds of up to 650 km/h.
Israel's Iron Beam laser air defense system has been officially activated by the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. According to a joint press release, the system was successfully tested against various threats and will be integrated into the Israeli Air Force as part of its multi-layered aerial defense array.