The U.S. Space Force is preparing to deploy laser-based air-defense systems at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to counter unauthorized drones near the Florida spaceport, according to Israel Defense, citing reporting by The War Zone.
The systems are intended to protect launch operations and sensitive infrastructure from drone incursions, including potential intelligence gathering. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station supports national-security missions and commercial launch providers including SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin.
Israel Defense reported that hundreds of suspicious small-drone incursions have been recorded near the facility over the past year. The report said conventional radio-frequency jamming can be problematic around launch sites because it could interfere with spacecraft, launch-vehicle electronics and other sensitive equipment.
Directed-energy systems would instead seek to disable an aircraft with a focused laser beam, without producing the electromagnetic interference associated with RF jamming. The system was tested at the Air Force Research Laboratory, according to the report.
The technology also has constraints, including power demands, thermal limits on firing capacity and reduced effectiveness in cloudy or foggy conditions. The report also noted airspace-safety considerations involving friendly aircraft.
The planned deployment follows security concerns around drone activity at the spaceport, where launch vehicles and facilities handle volatile rocket propellants and other hazardous materials.
