--- title: "US military deploys laser weapons in Strait of Hormuz" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-deploys-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-military-deploys-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-deploys-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-military-deploys-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-09-24T20:45:44.828Z" source_reported: "2026-09-24T17:28:42.000Z" updated: "2026-09-24T20:45:44.828Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-24T23:00:40.631323+00:00" --- # US military deploys laser weapons in Strait of Hormuz *High-energy systems are used to destroy drones and missiles, operated with modified game controllers.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the Department of War and multiple named experts. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The report includes quotes from experts and explains the technology, but lacks comment from those affected or opposed. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. The headline uses loaded language like 'fricken laser beams' and 'invisible American lasers'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The US military is deploying high-energy laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz. - These systems are used to destroy drones and intercept cruise missiles. - Soldiers operate the weapons using modified Xbox game console controllers. - The lasers require clear skies and struggle against drone swarms. The US military has deployed high-energy laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz to destroy drones and intercept cruise missiles. These systems are operated by soldiers using reconfigured Xbox game console controllers. The technology focuses a high-energy laser to destroy objects, reportedly at a lower cost than using kinetic weapons. The Joint Task Force Southern Border has been testing the technology by shooting down drug-dealer drones. The HELIOS systems reportedly focus a 60 kilowatt high-energy laser. However, the lasers need clear skies to function effectively and have a tough time defending against drone swarms. ## Coverage disagreements The New York Post reported that the US military is spending $500 million on these laser weapons, citing experts. Other reports do not mention a specific cost or contract figure. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports below mention the specific capabilities of the HELIOS systems beyond their wattage, nor do they detail the number of drug-dealer drones shot down by the Joint Task Force Southern Border. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 100% (8) 0 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-24T23:00:40.631323+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-24T23:15:16.145Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Reports from right-rated outlets focused on the deployment of laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz and along the US southern border. Several highlighted the use of modified Xbox controllers for operating the systems, with headlines referencing gaming. The New York Post reported a $500 million spending figure and quoted experts on the technology's capabilities and development history. Other outlets mentioned the systems' ability to destroy drones and missiles and noted limitations such as weather conditions and drone swarms. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 1 - mixed: 5 - high: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Interfax.ru](https://interfax.ru/world/1118346) β€” The United States Deployed Laser Installations on Ships in the Strait of Ormous - [India TV News](https://indiatvnews.com/news/world/us-military-reportedly-considers-xbox-style-controls-for-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz-2026-09-24-1055215) β€” From Xbox to battlefield? US military reportedly considers gaming-style controls for laser weapons in Hormuz - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/24/2617837.html) β€” The US military shoots down drones with a laser: - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/world/laser-weapon-operated-using-xbox-controllers-deployed-by-us-military-in-strait-of-hormuz-report-7619202.html) β€” Laser Weapon Operated Using Xbox Controllers Deployed by US Military in Strait of Hormuz: Report | 🌎 LatestLY - [NDTV](https://ndtv.com/world-news/us-iran-war-weapons-news-us-deploying-laser-weapons-in-hormuz-that-can-be-operated-with-xbox-console-12093870) β€” US Deploying Laser Weapons In Hormuz That Can Be Operated With Xbox Console: Report - [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2026/09/24/thats-right-were-shooting-down-enemy-drones-with-fricken-laser-beams-n4957608) β€” That's Right: We're Shooting Down Enemy Drones With Fricken Laser Beams - [RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/09/24/invisible-american-lasers-now-destroying-iranian-weapons-and-infrastructure-n2207333) β€” Invisible American Lasers Now Destroying Iranian Weapons and Infrastructure - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/24/us-news/us-military-spending-500m-on-war-ready-laser-weapons-experts) β€” US military spending $500M on β€˜war-ready’ laser weapons β€” and zapping drones in Iran, along US border: experts ## Questions **What are the US military's new laser weapons used for?** The US military is deploying high-energy laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz to destroy drones and intercept cruise missiles. The technology is also being tested along the US southern border to shoot down drug-dealer drones. **How are these laser weapons operated?** Soldiers operate the laser weapons using reconfigured Xbox game console controllers. This approach leverages familiar gaming interfaces for controlling the advanced technology. **What are the limitations of these laser weapons?** The laser weapons require clear skies to function effectively. They also face challenges when defending against large numbers of drones, such as drone swarms. --- MediaBias News β€” https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-deploys-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US military deploys laser weapons in Strait of Hormuz", https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-deploys-laser-weapons-in-strait-of-hormuz