2026年2月12日 3:57 UTC / 路透社
作者：David Jeans和Mike Stone
[1/2] 2026年2月11日，在美国得克萨斯州埃尔帕索，美国联邦航空管理局解除了对埃尔帕索上空空域的临时关闭，称所有航班将恢复正常，且对商业航空没有威胁。图为埃尔帕索空军基地的直升机。路透社/何塞·路易斯·冈萨雷斯
[1/2] 2026年2月11日，在美国得克萨斯州埃尔帕索，美国联邦航空管理局解除了对埃尔帕索上空空域的临时关闭，称所有航班将恢复正常，且对商业航空没有威胁。图为埃尔帕索空军基地的直升机。路透社/何塞… 阅读更多
华盛顿，2月11日（路透社）——两名知情人士告诉路透社，美国陆军周三在埃尔帕索国际机场附近部署了AeroVironment公司（AVAV.O）的LOCUST激光反无人机武器系统，导致该空域关闭了7小时。
这款此前未被报道过的20千瓦LOCUST高能激光武器，是美国部署尖端反无人机技术的罕见已知案例，其成本仅为传统拦截导弹的一小部分，却能有效摧毁飞行目标。
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AeroVironment和五角大楼未立即回应置评请求。
政府和航空公司官员告诉路透社，美国联邦航空管理局（FAA）周三早些时候在得克萨斯州边境城市埃尔帕索周边空域暂停了超过7小时的空中交通，此前该局对陆军部署在机场附近的Fort Bliss基地的激光反无人机系统可能对商业航空构成风险表示担忧。
美国一直在寻求安全且经济高效的方式来应对无人机威胁，尤其是在机场和大型体育赛事周边——随着今年夏天国际足联世界杯和美国250周年庆典临近，这一担忧变得愈发紧迫。五角大楼报告称，在美国-墨西哥边境，每月有超过1000起无人机目击事件。
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总部位于弗吉尼亚州的无人机及反无人机制造商AeroVironment于2024年9月向美国陆军交付了首批两套LOCUST系统，作为多用途高能激光原型项目的一部分。这些系统在亚利桑那州的尤马试验场进行了测试，之后陆军部队在俄克拉荷马州的锡尔堡接受了培训。
国防专家一直主张将反无人机技术纳入唐纳德·特朗普总统的“金色穹顶”导弹防御计划，尤其是在南部边境地区，贩毒集团无人机在此进行监视和基础设施攻击。
记者：Mike Stone和David Jeans；编辑：Joe Brock和Kate Mayberry
我们的标准：路透社信托原则。
Exclusive: AeroVironment’s LOCUST counter-drone laser used by US Army near El Paso airport, sources say
February 12, 2026 3:57 AM UTC / Reuters
By David Jeans and Mike Stone
节点运行失败
Item 1 of 2 Helicopters sit at Fort Bliss Air Base, after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration lifted its temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying all flights will resume as normal and that there was no threat to commercial aviation, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., February 11, 2026. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
[1/2]Helicopters sit at Fort Bliss Air Base, after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration lifted its temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying all flights will resume as normal and that there was no threat to commercial aviation, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., February 11, 2026. REUTERS/Jose… Read more
WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) – The U.S. Army deployed AeroVironment Inc’s AVAV.O LOCUST laser counter-drone weapon system near El Paso International Airport on Wednesday, leading to a seven-hour airspace shutdown, two people briefed on the situation told Reuters.
The use of the 20-kilowatt LOCUST direct-energy weapon, which has not previously been reported, is a rare known example of the U.S. deploying cutting-edge counter-drone technology capable of defeating flying objects at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptor missiles.
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AeroVironment and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted air traffic for more than seven hours in and out of the Texas border city of El Paso earlier on Wednesday after raising concerns that the Army’s laser-based counter-drone system, housed at Fort Bliss adjacent to the airport, could pose risks to commercial air traffic, government and airline officials told Reuters.
The United States has been seeking safe and cost-effective ways to defeat drones, particularly around airports and large sporting events – a concern that has become more urgent ahead of the FIFA World Cup and America250 anniversary celebrations this summer. On the U.S.-Mexico border, the Pentagon reports more than 1,000 drone sightings monthly.
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AeroVironment, a Virginia-based drone and counter-drone manufacturer, delivered its first two LOCUST systems to the U.S. Army in September 2024 as part of the Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototyping effort. The systems underwent testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona before Army units received training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Defense experts have advocated for layering counter-drone technology into President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative, particularly along the southern border where cartel drones conduct surveillance and attacks on infrastructure.
Reporting by Mike Stone and David Jeans; Editing by Joe Brock and Kate Mayberry
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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