AeroVironment (AVAV) Lands $464.8M Army Contract — Lasers Move Into Production
- Jonathan Poyer
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
AeroVironment (AVAV) just landed a major counter-drone award.
The U.S. Army awarded AV a $464.8 million contract for its LOCUST X3 high-energy laser under the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program.
The Deal
Contract Value | $464.8M |
System | LOCUST X3 |
Laser Power | 30 kW |
Systems | Dozens |
Delivery | Multi-year |
Primary Mission | Counter-UAS |
Target Classes | Group 1–3 drones |
The Army says this is its first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon system.
The economics of counter-drone defense are becoming increasingly important.
Traditional air-defense systems can require expensive kinetic interceptors to destroy relatively inexpensive drones.
The Army specifically highlighted two potential advantages of directed energy:
Low cost per shot + a magazine that regenerates with the system's power supply.
Instead of firing another missile, LOCUST uses electrical energy to generate a high-energy laser beam against unmanned aircraft threats.
The Mechanics
The system builds on Army high-energy laser prototypes already in use and recently completed counter-drone testing at White Sands Missile Range.
Now AeroVironment is expected to deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 systems over the next several years, including integration with platforms such as the Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
AV has also committed $30 million to expand its Albuquerque facility to support increased production.
With a $464.8 million initial award, dozens of systems planned and growing military demand for lower-cost ways to defeat drones, LOCUST is now a program worth watching closely.
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