Mar-a-Lago air defense has been reinforced in recent days, with U.S. Army Humvee-mounted AN/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air defense systems positioned near President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate and at Donald J. Trump International Airport several miles west. The assets were set in place about two weeks ago amid increased concern for the president’s security.
Officials did not provide specific reasons for deploying the surface-to-air missile systems. Iran had issued threats against Trump prior to his decision to join Israel in strikes on the Islamic Republic in February during Operation Epic Fury.
Large portions of Iran’s senior leadership were killed at the outset of that campaign. U.S. officials say Trump is considering resuming attacks on Iran as early as next week.
Authorities also note that Trump has faced assassination attempts and other threats unrelated to Iran, and security posture may be elevated around the midterm elections.
In a statement, the commands said that, at the request of the U.S. Secret Service and under North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command authorities, ground-based air defense and counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities were recently deployed in and around Mar-a-Lago. The statement described the assets as an added protective layer and declined to offer additional operational details, referring further questions to the Secret Service.
The U.S. Secret Service said it is operating in a heightened threat environment and continually adapts protective operations, including with counter-unmanned aircraft system support from NORAD and U.S. Northern Command.
NORAD and NORTHCOM did not specify which ground-based systems are in use or their exact locations. However, photographs show two Avenger systems mounted on a floating platform in Lake Worth Lagoon along the Mar-a-Lago shoreline and another placed on the beach.
Additional Avengers have been observed at the nearby airport. The role of North American Aerospace Defense Command in the mission has not been further detailed by officials.
The commands confirmed that Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Fly-Away Kits were sent to support the mission. These rapidly deployable packages include passive and active sensors, such as electro-optical and infrared cameras, Ku-band radar, and electronic support measures, to detect, classify and track drones.
Electronic warfare components can also be included. The Avenger system features a turret with two launchers, each carrying four heat-seeking Stinger surface-to-air missiles.
Recent upgrades improve Stinger effectiveness against drones. Avengers are intended for point defense of mobile forces, and since 9/11 they have also supported homeland air defense missions, including one system fixed on a rooftop near the White House.
The visible presence of these systems underscores the Secret Service’s focus on drone threats. First-person view drones and systems using fiber optics are proliferating globally, and Iran both fields and exports such capabilities.
Iranian long-range one-way attack drones could pose a particular concern given the estate’s proximity to the coastline, which could offer a launch avenue. Traditional aircraft remain a risk as well, and Stinger missiles are designed to counter them.
These ground assets complement NORAD-enforced temporary flight restrictions over the Mar-a-Lago area. A standing TFR runs through October 20, 2027, with additional restrictions issued during Trump’s visits.
According to an FAA filing in federal court in August, more than 160 aircraft and drones have violated Palm Beach airspace since October 2025. The most recently announced incident occurred on October 24, when a NORAD F-16 intercepted a general aviation aircraft that entered the restricted area.
After a standard headbutt maneuver to gain the pilot’s attention, the aircraft established communications and exited the airspace in compliance with instructions. Combat air patrols are routine during presidential stays and can persist for days, though they are resource intensive.
The current Florida deployments are at least the second time since August that Avengers have been used to protect Trump. Similar systems were seen on August 9 during the final round of the LIV Golf Bedminster tournament in New Jersey.
At that time, NORAD said Avengers supporting Secret Service protective duties were operated by the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, though officials declined to confirm whether that unit is involved in the present operation. Trump has been the target of multiple assassination attempts and threats.
On July 13, 2024, during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire. The alleged shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was killed, and Trump, bleeding from an ear wound, was escorted from the stage.
Prior to that, an account associated with Iran’s then-Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted an image implying a drone targeting Trump on a golf course, referencing vengeance for the January 2020 U.S. strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The social media account was suspended hours after the post appeared on January 21, 2020.
Khamenei was killed on February 28 during the opening night of Operation Epic Fury. Concerns about potential retaliation have intensified since that operation, prompting shifts in security protocols.
Earlier this month, reporting cited a State Department memo dated October 23 indicating U.S. intelligence assessed that Iran had substantially increased efforts to target American diplomats and officials, with lethal plots reaching advanced stages. In parallel, militaries worldwide are adapting to the spread of drones on the battlefield, including through initiatives such as France drone-combat units reshape tactics after trials.
Mar-a-Lago air defense and ongoing security posture
The Avenger deployments are the most conspicuous sign of reinforced protection around Trump in Florida. Officials indicate the threat environment is unlikely to ease in the near term.
The U.S. Secret Service continues to signal that it is operating in a heightened threat environment. Intelligence assessments pointing to increased plotting have added urgency to the expanded security measures.