AeroVironment is the pick to industrialize America's first fielded laser weapon. The Arlington, Va.-based defense technology company confirmed on Sept. 2 that the U.S. Army's Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires (PAE Fires) has awarded it a $464.8 million Other Transaction Agreement to build LOCUST X3 30-kilowatt directed-energy systems under the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program.
First-ever US high-energy laser production contract
Army officials frame E-HEL as the point where high-energy laser weapons transition from science project to sustained procurement. The deal covers “dozens” of LOCUST X3 launchers to be delivered over the next several years, plus system support and training, with the systems joining the Army's layered counter-UAS stack against Group 1-3 drones. AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi called the award “a defining moment” for the company and for modern battlefield air defense.
From White Sands live fire to JLTV integration
LOCUST X3 is a platform-agnostic 30 kW laser designed to bolt onto the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, palletized configurations and eventually the Infantry Squad Vehicle. Its E-HEL selection followed live-fire trials at White Sands Missile Range led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401, which in turn drove the FAA-Department of War safety agreement that cleared laser use in U.S. airspace. AeroVironment says the AV_Halo AI targeting stack is integrated into the LOCUST launcher, giving crews automated cueing across the Halo_Shield counter-drone architecture.
Scaling in Albuquerque as backlog stretches into 2027
AeroVironment plans to ramp E-HEL production at its Albuquerque, New Mexico plant, backed by a $30 million capacity expansion announced earlier this year. The laser award follows the company's record $1.5 billion fiscal Q1 backlog, its first international LOCUST order, and its recent Navy Aerosonde task orders. With Group 1-3 drone threats stacking up along the southern border and in overseas theatres, E-HEL is now the highest-profile production pipeline for a domestic directed-energy weapon.
Reporting based on coverage from AeroVironment press release, DefenseScoop and Breaking Defense.