Anti-drone laser spotted near Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, media report
Air defense systems at Mar-a-Lago (photo: Getty Images)
At least one AeroVironment LOCUST laser counter-drone system has been deployed near US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. It is part of a broader air defense and counter-UAV setup that has appeared around the property in recent weeks, according to The War Zone (TWZ).
The LOCUST laser system, mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) all-terrain vehicle, was captured in two photos taken on October 31 by Getty Images photographer Andrew Harnik. It is unclear exactly when the system was deployed.
Harnik's main subjects were two AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air defense systems mounted on Humvees. They are positioned on a floating platform in Lake Worth Lagoon near the edge of the estate, where they were first deployed just over two weeks ago. Additional Avenger systems have been placed around Donald Trump International Airport, located approximately five kilometers to the west.
Elements of mobile Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Fly-Away Kits have also been deployed nearby. These include a Ku-band radar, electronic support measures (ESM), electronic warfare equipment, and 360-degree infrared target detection and tracking systems.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM told TWZ that ground-based air defense and counter-UAV systems had been deployed in the Mar-a-Lago area at the US Secret Service's request. They said the equipment provides an additional layer of technological protection but declined to disclose further details for operational security reasons. The Secret Service said it was operating in an elevated threat environment and continuously implementing the latest technologies to protect the individuals it protects.
TWZ links the heightened security measures to signs of a possible new round of major hostilities with Iran and the US midterm elections. The outlet notes that Iranian authorities have repeatedly threatened Trump, who has also faced several assassination attempts and threats within the United States.
The US Army began receiving LOCUST variants mounted on JLTVs and lighter Infantry Squad Vehicles last year under the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) program. The Army is now procuring LOCUST X3 systems under the Enduring-High Energy Laser program. The X3 has a 30 kW power output, which is at the lower end of the high-energy laser spectrum, and is specifically designed to counter small drones.
Laser system at Mar-a-Lago (photo: Getty Images)
This is not the first time LOCUST has been deployed in real-world conditions. In 2022, the US Army confirmed deploying two earlier palletized P-HEL systems in undisclosed overseas locations. This year, AMP-HEL systems appeared along the US-Mexico border. One of them was linked to events that led to the closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas, in February.
Following that incident, the Pentagon reached a new agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use of laser weapons within the United States.
TWZ also points to the limitations of such systems. A laser can engage only one target at a time, and lower-powered systems need time to keep the beam focused. Weather conditions, smoke, and dust reduce beam power, while the effective range is generally measured in just a few miles.
RBC-Ukraine also covered countering drones with laser weapons this fall. On September 3, the UK Ministry of Defense launched Project PANOPTES to develop an autonomous laser air defense system mounted on armored vehicles to counter swarms of low-cost drones. The UK has allocated up to £5 million for the initial phase, with work expected to begin in November-December 2026.
On September 24, the US Army released photos of an AMP-HEL laser mounted on an Infantry Squad Vehicle, which it was testing at Fort Bliss in Texas.
