JavaScript Required

Jumpseat Aerospace News requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue.

US Army Awards $464.8M Laser Weapon Contract

September 4, 2026

1 min read

Key Takeaways

US Army awards AV $464.8 million contract for laser weapons.
AV to deliver 26 LOCUST X3 laser weapons over five years.
Systems to counter low-cost weaponized drones.
Contract marks first formal directed energy program of record.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Upgrade

Strategic Implications

This award may signal a significant shift in the US Army's approach to counter-drone defense, suggesting a growing reliance on directed energy solutions. The contract could indicate a maturing of laser technology, which may have implications for the broader defense industry and its approach to modernizing military capabilities.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Strategic Implications.

Upgrade

What Happened

Defense Contractor AV To Deliver High-Energy Laser Systems

The US Army has awarded defense contractor AV a $464.8 million contract to produce high-energy laser weapons under the Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program. The contract, reported by Laser Wars, marks the Army’s first formal directed energy program of record. AV will deliver 26 of its 30 kilowatt LOCUST X3 laser weapons to the Army over the next five years, with the systems designed to counter low-cost weaponized drones. This development was first reported by Defence Blog.

Source | Originally Published: September 4, 2026

Companies Mentioned