The U.S. Army has awarded AeroVironment, Inc. a $464.8 million contract for the LOCUST X3 laser system under its Enduring-High Energy Laser program. The 30-kilowatt laser is built to counter Group 3 unmanned aerial systems—mid-sized drones such as Iran’s Shahed-136, frequently used against U.S. troops and allies in the Middle East.
The LOCUST X3 can engage targets at greater ranges than traditional weapons, destroying drones in seconds and enabling rapid swarm defense. Its speed and precision allow it to thin large volumes of threats, preserving more expensive interceptors for higher-priority targets. AeroVironment describes it as the "apex predator" in the Army’s layered drone defenses.
Deliveries of dozens of LOCUST X3 systems are planned over the next few years, with the laser designed for vehicle mounting on platforms like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Efforts are also underway to adapt it for the Infantry Squad Vehicle. If fielded as scheduled, it would become the Army’s first directed-energy program of record, with higher-power versions expected later.
