AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 wins Army's first laser weapon production contract

The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million Other Transaction Agreement for the E-HEL program, the first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon in U.S. history. The 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3 is mounted on a removable sled so it can be fitted to any vehicle in the motor pool.

• $464.8 million Other Transaction Agreement signed September 2, 2026
• Laser output cut from 50 kW to 30 kW for field reliability
• Removable sled architecture lets the weapon move between vehicles
• Spectral beam combining uses about 50% less power than solid-state lasers