US Space Force Deploys Lasers at Cape Canaveral to Combat Drone Threats

• •Directed-energy laser systems are being deployed to protect Cape Canaveral from drone incursions.
• •Hundreds of unauthorized drone flights were reported last year, prompting this security upgrade.
• •Traditional RF jamming methods are unsuitable due to potential damage to spacecraft electronics.

The US Space Force is deploying directed-energy laser systems at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to counter unauthorized drone incursions. This initiative is part of a broader effort to protect sensitive launch infrastructure used by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. The decision comes after hundreds of unauthorized drone flights were recorded in the area last year, raising security concerns about potential espionage and safety during rocket launches. Traditional methods like RF jamming are ineffective due to the risk of damaging sensitive spacecraft electronics. The Air Force Research Laboratory has tested the system, which can safely neutralize drones with a kinetic kill. The exact timeline for operational deployment remains unspecified. Recent incidents have highlighted the urgency of this measure, including the arrest of a foreign national operating a drone near a NASA launch pad.