Army Awards AeroVironment $464.8M LOCUST X3 Laser Production Contract

The U.S. Army has awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million production contract for more than 26 LOCUST X3 high-energy laser counter-drone systems through the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program. The September 2026 award represents a shift from directed-energy demonstrations toward production and operational use. The modular, palletized system is intended to integrate with tactical vehicles, initially including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Army officials have also discussed vehicle-agnostic integration, potentially enabling the system to be adapted to additional platforms as requirements and testing evolve.

The Army’s current schedule calls for the first unit to be delivered by Q4 FY2027, followed by testing, validation, and verification before transfer to soldiers. Brig. Gen. Guy Yelverton, capability program executive for Defensive Fires, described the desired fielding window: “My far-down point would be spring [2028], and if I could get in the December-January timeframe, that would be awesome. That would be a great win for the Army.” The schedule is an operational target, not confirmation of a deployment date or location. The Army has not confirmed where the first systems will be deployed; a potential partnership with the 7th Infantry Division has been raised publicly but remains unconfirmed.

For contractors, the prime award is already in place, so the most immediate route into the program is likely through AeroVironment’s production supply chain and integration partners rather than a new Army competition for the same system. Prospective subcontractors should assess capabilities in vehicle integration, sensors, power and thermal management, training, field-level maintenance, and other components that support reliable operation in tactical environments. The Army’s emphasis on modularity, maintainability, reliability, and reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP) makes those attributes especially relevant to supplier positioning. The program identifies 12 subsystem categories, providing a useful framework for firms to map offerings against likely integration needs.

E-HEL’s open interfaces and modular architecture may also create opportunities over the system’s lifecycle. The Army has framed modularity as a way to enable field-level maintenance and continuous upgrades without replacing the entire weapon system, potentially generating recurring work in components, engineering, integration, and sustainment. The planned future variant decision around FY2031 suggests that suppliers may have opportunities beyond the initial production tranche, although it does not guarantee follow-on awards. A separate U.S. Air Force market-research request for information on medium-caliber guns for airbase defense concerns an adjacent counter-drone market; it is not a request for proposals and should not be treated as an open solicitation.

• The Army’s $464.8 million September 2026 award covers production of more than 26 LOCUST X3 systems under E-HEL; AeroVironment is the prime contractor.
• First-unit delivery is expected by Q4 FY2027. Initial operational deployment is targeted between December 2027 and spring 2028, subject to testing and validation.
• The first planned vehicle integration is the JLTV. The modular, palletized design may support installation on additional vehicle types, but specific future platforms are not confirmed.
• The Army has not announced the initial deployment location. The 7th Infantry Division has been mentioned as a potential partner, not as a confirmed recipient.
• Suppliers should pursue near-term engagement through AeroVironment, especially for production components, vehicle integration, sensors, power and cooling, training, and field maintenance.
• Capability positioning should emphasize modularity, maintainability, reliability, and reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP) to align with stated program priorities.
• The program’s 12 subsystem categories offer a way to map products and services to potential work packages; open interfaces may support integration and upgrade opportunities.
• A future variant decision is anticipated around FY2031, creating a possible longer-term planning horizon without guaranteeing additional procurement.
• The separate U.S. Air Force medium-caliber-gun RFI is market research only—not a solicitation or RFP—and does not constitute an active bid opportunity.
• Earlier LOCUST generations have been used in operational environments, while the Army has demonstrated directed-energy counter-drone capability; E-HEL’s production effort is intended to advance the system toward broader operational use.