On February 26, 2026, the U.S. military mistakenly shot down a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone near the Texas-Mexico border. The incident, described as a major breakdown in federal coordination, occurred near Fort Hancock, about 55 miles southeast of El Paso.
Key Details of the Incident
Weapon Used: Military personnel used a high-energy laser (part of a counter-unmanned aircraft system) to disable the drone after misidentifying it as a threat.
Cause: The Pentagon reportedly was not alerted in advance by the CBP about the drone's flight, leading military operators to mistake the government aircraft for a "hostile" or "cartel" drone.
Airspace Closure: Following the "friendly fire" incident, the FAA expanded flight restrictions over Fort Hancock, effective through June 24, 2026. Commercial flights at El Paso International Airport were not impacted this time.
Joint Response: The Department of Defense, CBP, and FAA issued a joint statement late Thursday acknowledging the engagement within military airspace and pledging increased cooperation.
This was the second major drone-related mishap in the region in just two weeks:
February 11, 2026: CBP personnel used a military-provided laser near Fort Bliss against what they thought was a cartel drone, but it turned out to be a Mylar party balloon.
That earlier incident caused a brief, eight-hour shutdown of the El Paso International Airport.
The specific drone shot down on February 26, 2026, was a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (also known as the Predator B), a high-altitude surveillance aircraft.
Estimated Costs
Unit Cost: A single MQ-9 Reaper costs approximately $30 million to $34 million in current valuation.
Operating Cost: It costs roughly $12,255 to $13,000 per hour to keep one of these drones in the air when factoring in personnel, maintenance, and equipment overhead.
Total System Value: A full system—which typically includes four aircraft, a ground control station, and satellite links—can cost upwards of $57 million to $64 million.
Comparison with Other "Targets"
The recent series of incidents at the border highlights a massive cost disparity in the objects being engaged:
The Drone: $30M+.
The Balloon: On February 11, the same laser system was used to down what turned out to be a Mylar party balloon, which typically costs less than $5.
The Weapon: The military used the Locust laser system (manufactured by BlueHalo), which is designed to provide a low "cost-per-shot" compared to traditional missiles, though the initial acquisition of the laser technology itself is a multi-million dollar investment.
The most recent broad estimate from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS/ASPE) was for 2019.
Meanwhile.... In 2021, state and local governments spent $862 billion on public welfare, or 23 percent of direct general
expenditures.
The Weapon: The military used the Locust laser system (manufactured by BlueHalo), which is designed to provide a low "cost-per-shot" compared to traditional missiles, though the initial acquisition of the laser technology itself is a multi-million dollar investment.
