Pete Hegseth reportedly authorizes DHS to test ‘heat ray’ at US-Mexico border

The Guardian World Thursday 22 October 2026, 15:40 UTC By Ariana Baio 1 min read

Key Points

The Pentagon’s Active Denial System shoots energy beam that causes ‘sensation of intense heat on surface of skin’Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of defense, reportedly signed a memo last month permitting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test a non-lethal “heat ray” for potential use at the US southern border. The “heat ray”, known as the Active Denial System, is a military-grade weapon that shoots an energy beam causing “a sensation of intense heat on the surface of the skin”,...

The Pentagon’s Active Denial System shoots energy beam that causes ‘sensation of intense heat on surface of skin’

Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of defense, reportedly signed a memo last month permitting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test a non-lethal “heat ray” for potential use at the US southern border.

The “heat ray”, known as the Active Denial System, is a military-grade weapon that shoots an energy beam causing “a sensation of intense heat on the surface of the skin”, according to a 2009 National Defense University case study on the weapon.

Pete Hegseth (PERSON) DHS (ORG) US (LOCATION) Pentagon (ORG) Active Denial System (ORG) skin’Pete Hegseth (PERSON) the Department of Homeland Security (ORG) the Active Denial System (ORG) National Defense University (ORG)

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Pete Hegseth reportedly authorizes DHS to test ‘heat ray’ at US-Mexico border

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