The US Army has deployed ground-based radars to detect and monitor drones as part of the ongoing expansion of military support along the US-Mexico border. Earlier this week, the Department of Defense (DoD) released images of soldiers from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, training with the AN/TPQ-53 and AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radars in Arizona. The 10th Mountain Division is among several US military units that have deployed personnel and equipment to bolster border security efforts, a mission that expanded following President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
The growing use of weaponised drones by Mexican drug cartels, as well as for smuggling and surveillance purposes, and has led to an increasing concern around the potential threat posed to US military bases and other critical infrastructure. Having become increasingly well-armed and equipped, Mexican drug cartels have embraced uncrewed aerial systems, expanding their scale and scope of use. Once primarily seen as a smuggling tool, drones are now routinely used for surveillance and attacks against rival cartels and government security forces.
The caption of one of the pictures released by the DoD stated that “HHB Divarty [Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Division Artillery,] 10th Mountain Division raise their drone detection capabilities at the southern border”. It also noted that “US Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment US Customs and Border Protection along the southern border.”
Raytheon’s AN/MPQ-64 is a versatile radar capable of detecting a range of aerial threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones, while also providing targeting data for air defence systems. Meanwhile, the AN/TPQ-53 radar system developed by Lockheed Martin can detect mortars, rockets, and artillery while accurately identifying their points of origin. Friendly forces can then utilise this data to target enemy units responsible for the attacks. This capability is one of the reasons the system is currently deployed in Army artillery units such as the 10th Mountain Division’s DIVARTY. Both the AN/TPQ-53 and AN/MPQ-64 are well-suited for detecting and tracking low-flying threats. Deploying these radars to the US-Mexico border enhances monitoring capabilities for cartel drone activity while also providing valuable additional situational awareness.
In recent years, multiple incidents have shown how cartel-related violence in Mexico can escalate to levels resembling a low-level civil conflict rather than just organised crime. As the US government and military have increased activity along the southern border in recent months, concerns have grown over the potential for this violence to spill over. Among these concerns are reports that cartels could launch cross-border drone attacks.
As of March 2025, approximately 9,000 US military personnel are deployed along the US-Mexico border to support Trump’s efforts to curb immigration and smuggling, according to the Department of Defense.
Post Image Credit: Department of Defense.
