Laser Array Installed at Mar-a-Lago to Counter Drone Threats
Military officials confirm the deployment of a high-energy laser system to protect the Florida estate, marking a new layer in US presidential security.
By Olga Menon ·
Residents near Palm Beach, Florida, now share airspace with a high-energy laser system designed to shoot down drones. The addition changes the defensive perimeter around President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, introducing directed energy technology to a site previously protected by conventional means.
Officials from North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command confirmed that counter-drone capabilities were deployed at the request of the Secret Service. The agencies cited a heightened security environment as the primary reason for the upgrade. A statement from the agencies noted that these assets add a complementary layer of technology to enhance protection, though operational details remained classified.
The system installed is the LOCUST, manufactured by AeroVironment. It is built to detect, track, and disable unmanned aircraft ranging from small quadcopters to fixed-wing planes weighing up to 600 kilograms. The weapon can be configured for mobile use, transported on a pallet, or mounted on a vehicle. Reports indicate the unit at Mar-a-Lago is mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
The Secret Service stated that it is operating in a heightened threat environment. The agency said it continuously adapts protective operations to incorporate cutting-edge tools to safeguard protectees. The laser functions as one element of a larger network that includes radar, infrared sensors, electronic jamming systems, and Avenger short-range air defense systems on a floating platform.
The deployment follows a contract awarded to AeroVironment in September for approximately $464.8 million. This deal represents the first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon system in US history. The company plans to deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 units to the Army. Mary Clum, the company's president for space, cyber, and directed energy, said the upgraded system transforms how defenders respond to massed drone attacks.
The cost of engagement is a factor in the system's adoption. AeroVironment states that LOCUST can engage a threat for less than $10 per shot. Traditional kinetic weapons can cost millions of dollars per round. The system can defeat targets within seconds of identification. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of War have also reached a safety agreement permitting the system to operate in US airspace.
