ARLINGTON, Va., — The U.S. Army has awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to produce and deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 high-energy laser weapon systems under the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program.
AeroVironment announced the award on September 2, saying it represents the first-ever production contract for directed-energy systems in U.S. history. The agreement moves the LOCUST system from prototype and testing activities into production and planned fielding.
The contract was awarded through the Army’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires (PAE Fires). AeroVironment will deliver the systems over the next several years to support the Army’s multi-year fielding requirements, along with training and ongoing system support.
30-kilowatt laser for counter-drone missions
The LOCUST X3 is a 30-kilowatt directed-energy system designed to counter Group 1 through Group 3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). AeroVironment describes it as a platform-agnostic system intended for integration with different vehicles and other configurations.
The initial Army integration will include the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), while palletized configurations will also be available. AeroVironment said it will study the possibility of integrating the system with the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).
The company says LOCUST X3 uses its AV_Halo software for AI-enabled detection, tracking and precision targeting. The system is also designed to operate as an effector within AeroVironment’s Halo_Shield counter-UAS architecture, allowing integration with different sensors and command-and-control systems.
Because the weapon uses electrical power rather than conventional interceptor ammunition, its engagements are not limited by a traditional missile magazine. AeroVironment has also highlighted the system's low cost per engagement and ability to provide persistent counter-UAS protection when sufficient power is available.
Builds on earlier Army testing
The E-HEL program builds on the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) prototypes and earlier LOCUST development. AeroVironment said LOCUST systems underwent testing at White Sands Missile Range with Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Army's fires acquisition office.
According to the company, those tests demonstrated safe and effective counter-drone operations in U.S. airspace and supported a safety agreement between the Department of War and the Federal Aviation Administration for domestic use of the system.
Earlier LOCUST systems have also been demonstrated aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. AeroVironment said the system successfully demonstrated its counter-UAS capability during those tests.
Production expansion in New Mexico
To support the new production requirement, AeroVironment is investing $30 million to expand its directed-energy manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company announced the investment in March 2026, with the expansion intended to increase manufacturing capacity for the LOCUST family.
Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment’s Chairman, President and CEO, said the award reflects the transition of directed energy from experimentation to an enduring, fielded capability following years of work with the U.S. Army. John Garrity, the company's Vice President of Directed Energy Systems, described E-HEL as a production-ready system based on lessons from earlier prototyping and operations.
The Army contract marks a significant step in the U.S. effort to move high-energy laser weapons into regular military service, with the LOCUST X3 now moving toward multi-year production and fielding as part of the Army's layered counter-UAS capabilities.
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