Sen. Lankford Takes Aim at Southern Border Drone Threat

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., wants to gather up all the information possible on drug cartels and potential foreign nations deploying drones along the U.S. southern border.

The Daily Caller reported Lankford is introducing legislation to require a complete government review of the threat posed by drones that are regularly spotted by U.S. military units and law enforcement officers along the U.S. border with Mexico.

U.S. military commanders were preparing to deploy counter-drone technology at the border in response to a growing number of drone encounters, Defense Scoop reported.

According to Defense Scoop, Rear Adm. Paul Spedero Jr. told a congressional committee, "We know that cartels have used [uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS,] for unauthorized surveillance to assess our troop size, our movements, to solicit and enable attacks from other vectors," adding, "We know that they have used drones for kinetic attacks."

Lankford posted comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, noting that even Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters need better anti-drone technology.

Lankford said, "For years, I've emphasized the importance of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) technology in protecting against threats to the United States."

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is co-sponsoring the Lankford initiative. Kelly told the Caller, "Drone technology is rapidly evolving, and in the wrong hands, it can pose risks to our national security."

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