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AeroVironment receives $464.8 million Army contract for first-ever high-energy laser production

The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million contract for the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program. This marks the service's first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon. The system, powered by electric energy, generates a lethal laser beam to defeat unmanned systems at a lower cost per shot than kinetic weapons like missiles. John Garrity, vice president of directed-energy systems at AeroVironment, stated that the contract covers the delivery of dozens of LOCUST X3 laser weapon systems over the next few years. The LOCUST X3 is a 30-kilowatt system designed to target Group 3 unmanned aircraft, though it can also target smaller Group 1 and 2 drones. Initial capabilities will be delivered within the year to undergo government acceptance testing. The systems are platform-agnostic and intended for integration onto various vehicles, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and the Infantry Squad Vehicle. To support the production ramp, AeroVironment will invest $30 million in its Albuquerque, New Mexico, facility by March 2026.

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