U.S. Army awards AeroVironment its first-ever laser weapon production contract
The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million contract to produce the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) system, the Army's first production contract for a directed-energy weapon. AeroVironment $AVAV will deliver dozens of 30kW LOCUST laser systems over several years. Per U.S. Army / Defense News.
The U.S. Army announced an Other Transaction Agreement with AeroVironment, Inc. (Albuquerque, New Mexico; NASDAQ: AVAV) worth $464.8 million for production under the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program, the Army's first-ever production contract for a high-energy laser weapon system. Under the deal, AeroVironment will deliver dozens of 30 kilowatt LOCUST laser systems over the next several years, designed to counter drones in the Defense Department's Group 1-3 size classes. Rather than firing a missile, the system fires a laser beam and recharges its magazine directly from its own power supply, giving it a lower cost-per-shot than kinetic weapons. Army officials, including Vice Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve and Under Secretary of the Army Mike Obadal, framed the award as a step toward giving soldiers a layered, scalable counter-drone capability. The LOCUST X3 system is platform-agnostic and can be mounted on vehicles including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, building on earlier Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototypes already fielded to soldiers. Sources: U.S. Army / Defense News.