The essay that arrived late
The Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have just agreed on something that should have happened before: controlled tests of a laser to neutralize drones. The setting will be White Sands, New Mexico. The reason is as simple as it is worrying.
The technology has already been used in the real field, twice, and the result was aerial chaos over Texas. First, in early February, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activated the system without notifying air traffic controllers. The FAA had to close the space over El Paso, leaving travelers stranded.
Days later, the US military used the laser again. They shot down a flying device near the border with Mexico that they considered a threat. The problem is that it later became known: that drone belonged to CBP itself.
“It is necessary to review the coordination protocols between agencies to avoid risks to the security of the national airspace system,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth.
There are no hidden villains here, but rather an uncoordinated bureaucracy playing with fire—or rather, with lasers—in one of the busiest air corridors. Lawmakers now demand an investigation. The reason? That the agencies in charge of protecting us seem to be operating in silos, without communicating.
Meanwhile, at White Sands they will test if the weapon technically works. The real test, that of coordinating between agencies, was already failed twice with the Texan skies as a classroom.
