No Longer Science Fiction, the U.S. Army is Moving a High-Energy Laser Weapon Into Production for the First Time

The U.S. Army has authorized its first production contract for a directed energy weapons system, LOCUST X3, designed to take down uncrewed threats with high-energy lasers. The system, developed under the Enduring High Energy Laser program (E-HEL), reduces the cost of countering adversarial drones compared to expensive kinetic missile systems. AeroVironment will produce the system, marking a major step toward turning what was once a science-fiction trope into a battlefield reality. The technology could help mitigate logistics and supply challenges, as it is far cheaper to operate than kinetic weapons like missiles, and allows for ongoing upgrades.

• LOCUST X3 draws electrical energy from a magazine to produce the system’s high-energy beam, and its power supply regenerates that magazine, preparing it for further action.
• The system is modular, with 11 major interfaces allowing it to be integrated with a variety of platforms and vehicles, and can be deployed at permanent installations, temporary bases, and aboard mobile vehicles.
• The contract to develop the systems is valued at $465 million, and the E-HEL program is an example of how the Army has successfully utilized MOSA, a key element of acquisition reform, to field technology quickly with an interface to upgrade in the future.

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