The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) have completed their safety assessment of a high-energy laser counter-drone system.
DoD use of the system in February led the FAA to close airspace and shut down El Paso International Airport. A second incident the same month resulted in a government drone being shot down.
The FAA and DoD assessment “validated that proper safety controls are in place and that while these systems are at the cutting edge of counter drone technology, they do not pose undue risk to passenger aircraft,” the FAA said in an April 10 statement.
According to the statement, DoD will coordinate with the FAA regarding the use of this system and ensure civilian aircraft, pilots, navigation equipment or air traffic services are not impacted.
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Image: An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright)
