Evolving Counter-Drone Tech Lacks Foolproof Defense

Experts say no single solution can fully protect critical infrastructure from unauthorized drone flights.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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When the Federal Aviation Administration closed the airport in El Paso, Texas and the airspace around it on Feb. 10, 2026, the cause was the nearby use of a Department of Defense anti-drone laser weapon by Customs and Border Protection officials targeting what they identified as a drone crossing the border from Mexico. The targeted drone turned out to be a party balloon, highlighting the challenges in safely and effectively countering drones, also known as uncrewed aircraft systems.

Why it matters

The El Paso incident underscores the evolving threat posed by drones, which have been modified for military purposes by groups like ISIS, and the lack of comprehensive defenses to protect critical infrastructure like airports, power plants, and stadiums from unauthorized drone flights, whether malicious or accidental.

The details

Counter-drone technologies fall into three main categories: radio frequency jamming, directed energy weapons like lasers, and kinetic systems like nets and missiles. Each has strengths and weaknesses, and experts say a 'Swiss cheese' layered approach using multiple systems is often the best way to maximize safety. However, fast-moving drones, drones operating in 'silent' mode, and the high cost of some counter-drone tech remain challenges.

  • On Feb. 10, 2026, the FAA closed the El Paso airport and airspace due to the use of an anti-drone laser weapon.
  • Starting in 2015, ISIS began modifying commercial drones to drop grenades and mortars on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.
  • On June 1, 2025, Ukrainian forces deployed over 100 'kamikaze' drones in an attack on Russian territory.

The players

Jamey Jacob

Regents Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Executive Director, Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, Oklahoma State University.

Customs and Border Protection

A U.S. government agency that used a Department of Defense anti-drone laser weapon near the U.S.-Mexico border.

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What they’re saying

“The episode highlights the need for counter-drone technologies, the state-of-the-art systems used by the U.S. military, and the challenges to safely and effectively countering drones, which are also known as uncrewed aircraft systems.”

— Jamey Jacob, Regents Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Executive Director, Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, Oklahoma State University (Mirage News)

What’s next

Companies are continuing to evaluate numerous ways to track, identify and defeat drones in order to protect critical U.S. infrastructure, but a foolproof solution remains elusive.

The takeaway

While counter-drone technologies are evolving, the threat posed by unauthorized drone flights, whether malicious or accidental, remains a significant challenge for securing airports, power plants, stadiums, and other critical infrastructure in the U.S.