The Other Transaction Agreement was issued by the Army’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires for the Enduring-High Energy Laser program. Deliveries are scheduled over the next several years under the service’s multi-year fielding requirements.
The 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3 is designed to counter Group 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems within the Army’s layered air defense architecture. The production award marks the program’s transition from prototype development to fielded capability.
LOCUST X3 can be integrated with different platforms, including the Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, and is also available in palletized configurations. AeroVironment will study possible integration with the Infantry Squad Vehicle and provide ongoing training and system support.
“This award marks a defining moment not only for AV, but for the future of modern defense,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “The transition of directed energy from experimentation to an enduring, fielded capability reflects years of collaboration, innovation, and operational success alongside the U.S. Army.”
The E-HEL program builds on Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototypes already used by the service. The contract follows testing of LOCUST at White Sands Missile Range led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Army’s fires acquisition office.
AeroVironment said the testing demonstrated safe and effective counter-drone operations in U.S. airspace. The results supported a safety agreement between the Department of War and the Federal Aviation Administration that validated the system for domestic use.
Production will be supported by a $30 million expansion of AeroVironment’s facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company announced the investment in March 2026.
“This program represents the culmination of years of operational lessons learned and rapid prototyping,” said John Garrity, Vice President of Directed Energy Systems at AV. “E-HEL is not a future capability, it is a production-ready system, built on proven technology, and designed to meet the demands of today’s fight while scaling for tomorrow’s threats.”
Earlier versions of LOCUST have also been demonstrated aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS *George H.W. Bush*. The latest X3 configuration adds greater power, modularity and AV_Halo artificial intelligence-driven targeting.
LOCUST X3 also serves as an effector within AeroVironment’s Halo_Shield counter-UAS architecture. Its platform-independent design is intended to support integration across different vehicles, missions and operational environments.
