ARLINGTON, Va. — On September 8, 2026 AeroVironment, Inc. announced it has received its first international purchase order for the LOCUST Laser Weapon System in a direct commercial sale valued at more than $50 million.
The order covers an initial delivery of LOCUST systems and associated support services. AeroVironment has not disclosed the buying country, number of systems or delivery timeline.
The deal follows the company's selection by the U.S. Army for a $464.8 million Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) contract, which AeroVironment has described as the first production contract for high-energy laser weapons in U.S. history. Under the agreement, the company will deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 systems over the next several years.
AeroVironment President, Chairman and CEO Wahid Nawabi said the international order reflects growing recognition of high-energy laser systems for modern air defense. He also said the spread of low-cost drones has changed the economics of warfare and that LOCUST provides an affordable alternative to relying on expensive interceptor missiles.
LOCUST Laser Weapon System
LOCUST, originally developed by BlueHalo, uses a 20-to-35-plus-kilowatt scalable laser, artificial intelligence, advanced sensing and tracking capabilities to detect, track and defeat Group 1 through 3 unmanned aircraft systems and other aerial threats.
AeroVironment states that LOCUST engagements can cost less than $10 per shot, with earlier company statements citing costs below $5 in some configurations. Because the system uses generated power rather than physical ammunition, it does not have the traditional reload limitations of interceptor-based air-defense systems.
The modular system can operate in fixed-site, palletized and mobile configurations and connect with different sensors and command-and-control networks.
LOCUST is part of AeroVironment's Halo_Shield layered air-defense platform, which also incorporates the Titan counter-UAS system and Freedom Eagle-1 missile.
U.S. Testing and Production Expansion
LOCUST has been used in acknowledged laser engagements against drones near the U.S. southern border and has successfully defeated multiple drones during testing from the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush.
The system has also been integrated onto Infantry Squad Vehicles and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles under the AMP-HEL initiative. It recently underwent live-fire testing at White Sands Missile Range, where military leaders, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, observed or operated the system.
A safety agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of War has established a framework for LOCUST operations in U.S. airspace following an FAA review.
AeroVironment acquired BlueHalo in May 2025 for $4.1 billion, bringing the LOCUST system into its portfolio.
To support growing demand, AeroVironment is investing more than $30 million to expand its manufacturing campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The expansion is planned as a vertically integrated production hub for directed energy, space and other advanced defense technologies. The company expects it to create more than 450 jobs and generate over $670 million in economic impact.
Mary Clum, President of Space, Cyber, and Directed Energy at AeroVironment, said the order supports the fielding of an operationally proven laser system and provides a foundation for expanded international adoption of layered counter-drone defenses.
The September 8 announcement marks the first confirmed international commercial sale of the LOCUST Laser Weapon System.
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