This Was The High-Energy Laser Used To Shoot Down a Party Balloon At The Southern Border

The high-energy laser used to shoot down what ended up being a party balloon at the southern border, leading to the closure of the airspace above El Paso and parts of New Mexico, was AeroVironment's LOCUST, according to a new report.

Axios detailed that the Army believes the weapon in question could be a cost-efficient way of combating drones, as operating the laser is much cheaper than launching interceptors. It was developed by BlueHalo, later acquired by AeroVironment.

The device had already been spotted at the border, when it was mounted on an Infantry Squad Vehicle. Axios noted that militaries have been developing military-grade lasers for years, with the Pentagon investing about $1 billion a year over the past year.

Israel recently unveiled its Iron Beam system, also designed to counter different threats, including small-caliber mortars, rocket, artillery and drones, according to Rafael, the company that designed it.

However, the use of the laser at the southern border sparked controversy this week. The Associated Press noted that the weapon was deployed without coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), leading the agency to make the mentioned decision to shut down airspace in the area.

The order lasted two hours and ended with seven departures and seven arrivals being cancelled. Some medical evacuations also had to be rerouted.

The order warned pilots, saying they could be "intercepted, detained and interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel" if they didn't comply. It also said the government could use "deadly force" if it "determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat."

The order didn't have any recent precedent. Robert Moore, founder and CEO of El Paso Matters, told CNN "we've never since anything like this here at least since 9/11, when everything was grounded." The outlet also cited an air-traffic controller who could be heard telling flight crews that "not even medevac are allowed to fly."

Both the U.S. and the Mexican government, however, have been warning about an increased use of drones by criminal organizations. As a result, the U.S. and Mexico said they would step up cooperation to deal with the matter.