Key Highlights
- AeroVironment secured a landmark $464.8 million Army contract for the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) initiative.
- This marks the inaugural production agreement for directed-energy weapons in United States military history.
- The company will supply multiple Locust X3 30-kilowatt laser weapon platforms throughout the coming years.
- The Locust X3 system is engineered to neutralize Group 1-3 unmanned aerial vehicles and will be mounted on vehicles including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
- Shares of AVAV finished the trading day up approximately 1%, with an additional 0.25% gain in extended hours.
Shares of AeroVironment (AVAV) climbed following Tuesday’s announcement of a substantial $464.8 million contract from the United States Army, with the stock advancing nearly 1% during standard trading hours and tacking on another 0.25% after the closing bell.
This agreement pertains to the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) initiative and signifies the inaugural production purchase of directed-energy weaponry in the annals of U.S. defense procurement. This achievement represents a significant turning point for the sector.
Issued by the Army’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires (PAE Fires), the contract stipulates that AeroVironment will furnish numerous Locust X3 laser weapon platforms throughout the forthcoming years, complete with operational support and personnel training.
Understanding the Locust X3 System
The Locust X3 operates as a 30-kilowatt directed-energy weapon engineered to neutralize smaller unmanned aerial systems without relying on traditional projectiles or explosives. Its versatile design allows deployment across various military vehicle platforms and tactical configurations.
Army planners intend to mount the system on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Additional palletized versions are under development, while evaluations continue for potential integration with the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).
The weapon leverages AeroVironment’s proprietary AV Halo artificial intelligence platform for target acquisition and operates as part of the company’s comprehensive Halo Shield counter-unmanned aircraft system architecture.
The Locust X3’s primary mission focuses on defeating Group 1 through Group 3 unmanned aircraft systems—the class of compact drones that have emerged as an escalating challenge across contemporary combat zones.
Transition from Development to Deployment
The E-HEL initiative represents an evolution of the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) experimental program. The Locust platform underwent rigorous evaluation at White Sands Missile Range under Joint Interagency Task Force 401 oversight, where it successfully validated its capability to neutralize aerial threats with precision and safety.
Those trials additionally facilitated a collaborative DOD-FAA authorization enabling the platform’s deployment within United States territory.
According to AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi, this contract demonstrates directed-energy technology’s evolution from laboratory experimentation to operational military deployment. This transition marks considerable progress for a capability that has undergone extensive evaluation without achieving full-scale manufacturing.
Manufacturing expansion will be supported through a $30 million capital investment in AeroVironment’s Albuquerque, New Mexico production facility, which was revealed in March 2026.
The organization previously showcased the Locust platform aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, suggesting potential naval implementations extending beyond this Army agreement.
AeroVironment’s current product lineup encompasses loitering munitions, autonomous platforms, counter-unmanned aircraft technology, space systems, electronic warfare solutions, and directed-energy armaments—representing substantial diversification from its origins as a tactical drone manufacturer.
This $464.8 million contract incorporates a substantial Army initiative into the company’s portfolio and establishes a manufacturing foundation within an emerging defense sector receiving heightened Pentagon emphasis.
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