- AeroVironment will deliver LOCUST X3 systems to the U.S. Army under multiyear fielding requirements
- The $464.8 million Army contract covers dozens of LOCUST X3 laser weapon systems
- LOCUST X3 is designed to counter group 1-3 unmanned aircraft as part of a layered Army air defense system
AeroVironment has received a $464.8 million contract from the U.S. Army Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires, or PAE Fires, to produce directed energy systems under the Enduring-High Energy Laser, or E-HEL, program.
What Does the E-HEL Contract Cover?
The company said Wednesday the other transaction agreement covers the delivery of dozens of LOCUST X3 laser weapon systems in the next few years to meet multiyear fielding requirements. The contract also includes system support and training.
The award is the Army’s first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon system, one that runs on electric power to generate the laser beam and offers a lower cost per shot against UAS threats than kinetic weapons like missiles.
The production ramp will be supported by a $30 million investment in AeroVironment’s Albuquerque, New Mexico, facility, announced in March 2026.
AeroVironment Chairman, President and CEO Wahid Nawabi, a 2026 Wash100 Award winner, said the award reflects the shift of directed energy from experimentation to a fielded capability, the product of years of collaboration and operational work with the U.S. Army.
The award is the latest in AeroVironment’s growing portfolio of Army counter-UAS work. In July, the company received a potential $500 million Army contract for commercial counter-UAS capabilities. The company has also developed laser weapon prototypes under the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser program and secured a separate contract in 2025 to scale production of its Freedom Eagle kinetic interceptor, which is designed to defeat Group 2 and Group 3 unmanned aircraft.
What Is LOCUST X3?
LOCUST X3 is a 30-kilowatt system intended to strengthen the Army’s layered air defense against Group 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems and position directed energy as a permanent fixture of future battlefield operations. It is designed for integration with multiple Army vehicles, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, with options for palletized configurations and potential future integration with the Infantry Squad Vehicle.
The system builds on the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototypes and demonstrated safe, effective counter-drone operations during a demonstration at White Sands Missile Range.
