US Army Receives More LOCUST Laser Weapons From AeroVironment

AeroVironment (AV) has delivered two additional LOCUST laser weapon systems to the US Army as part of the service’s Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) initiative.

AMP-HEL, contracted with AV’s subsidiary BlueHalo in 2023, is an ongoing prototyping effort to protect small ground units against aerial drones.

The new LOCUST systems are mounted on Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with a 20-kilowatt beam and a larger aperture director for increased lethality.

The handover follows the army’s acceptance of the first two laser weapons for the project last September, both featuring a smaller director but still within the same 20-kilowatt class and integrated with the GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle.

“AV continues to deliver proven, efficient, modular laser weapon systems that perform and protect in real-world threat environments,” said Mary Clum, president of space, cyber and directed energy at AV.

“LOCUST is a cost-effective, rugged, precise, and scalable solution that is addressing the ever-evolving [unmanned aerial system] threats our warfighters are facing on frontlines today. With the technology proven, we remain focused on advancing capabilities while scaling manufacturing to meet the growing demand.”

‘Proven’ System

AV’s LOCUST platform detects and tracks drones using multi-band radio frequency, maintaining security for dismounted troops.

The weapon provides 360-degree scanning and can be fitted with optional cameras to expand the field of view at a single angle.

Using its high-powered optical laser, the system can shoot and burn through a target mid-air, disabling enemy attack or reconnaissance assets.

“Directed energy is no longer a future concept — it is a proven force-protection capability,” said John Garrity, vice president of the directed energy business unit at AV.

“With LOCUST’s target acquisition, tracking and precision beam control, warfighters have an easy-to-use, reliable, trusted, and proven solution against the very real and evolving threats of modern warfare.”