Overview
- The New York Times reported Tuesday that the Army is considering placing the LOCUST laser near Fort Lesley J. McNair after recent drone activity.
- Reagan National Airport sits close to the post, and the FAA has warned that high‑energy lasers could put nearby aircraft or pilots at risk.
- An Army‑led task force said there was no credible threat, yet it increased anti‑drone measures to protect people who live and work on the base where Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio reside.
- LOCUST is a directed‑energy system built to disable small drones, and defense officials say a controlled test shot at a jet caused no structural damage.
- The policy fight intensified in a White House meeting led by Rubio, as recent Texas incidents and joint New Mexico tests keep the FAA‑Pentagon safety review in focus with no deployment yet approved.