The Pentagon is testing a range of technologies along the US-Mexico border, including unmanned boats, drones and high-energy lasers, according to Breaking Defense.
The testing was described by Breaking Defense’s Ashley Roque in an episode of The Pentagon Buzz following her discussion with Mark Ditlevson, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas security affairs.
Potential expansion next year
Officials are considering expanding the effort in 2027, Roque reported. The potential expansion could bring additional autonomous systems and counter-drone capabilities to the border technology testing program.
The systems under test span air and maritime domains, with drones and unmanned boats included alongside high-energy laser technology. Breaking Defense did not provide further details on the platforms, their deployment locations or the scope of the prospective 2027 expansion.
Any decision to add systems or counter-drone capabilities would represent a further development of the Pentagon’s ongoing border technology testing, according to the report.
