Cape Canaveral Spaceport

The US Space Force is acquiring directed-energy laser systems to shoot down drones flying over Cape Canaveral, Florida, home to a major space launch complex. The weapons are intended to protect rockets, spacecraft and infrastructure from small unmanned aerial threats near the busy spaceport. Details on which systems will be fielded and when remain limited, but the move reflects growing concern about drone threats to critical launch sites.

Cape Canaveral Spaceport is set to receive laser weapons designed to shoot down drones, according to reporting by The War Zone. The deployment would give the Florida launch site a directed-energy defense against unauthorized unmanned aircraft that could threaten rockets, satellites and other sensitive hardware during launch operations. Details on the specific systems, timing and which agencies will operate them have not been released, but the plan signals growing concern about drone threats to US space infrastructure.