Av's Locust Selected for Nearly $500M Army Counter-UAS Contract for Enduring-high Energy Laser (E-HEL) Program

September 02, 2026

AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in proven autonomous and counter-drone systems, today announced it has been awarded a landmark contract valued at $464.8 million by the U.S. Army Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires (PAE Fires) program office for the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program.  

This award represents the first-ever production contract for directed energy systems in United States history, signaling a historic transition from prototype to production for laser weapon systems.  

“This award marks a defining moment not only for AV, but for the future of modern defense,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “The transition of directed energy from experimentation to an enduring, fielded capability reflects years of collaboration, innovation, and operational success alongside the U.S. Army. We are proud to deliver these production systems and support the Army’s mission with scalable, modular, and cost-effective defense solutions.” 

Under this Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), AV will deliver dozens of LOCUST® X3 laser weapon systems over the next few years in support of multi-year fielding requirements, advancing the Army’s layered air defense capabilities against group 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) while also solidifying directed energy as a cornerstone of future battlefield operations.  

AV’s LOCUST X3, a 30-kilowatt platform-agnostic system, will be integrated with various platforms such as the Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), with options for palletized configurations, while analyzing the potential to integrate on an Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) in the near future. As part of the program, AV will also provide ongoing system support and training. 

The E-HEL program builds upon the success of the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) prototypes currently in use by the Army.  

The contract follows LOCUST’s successful testing at White Sands Missile Range, led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) and PAE Fires, which demonstrated safe, effective counter-drone operations in U.S. airspace and directly enabled a DOW–FAA safety agreement validating the system for domestic use. 

By entering production, the E-HEL program enables the Army to field a sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective solution against UAS. The ramp up in production will be supported by a $30 million investment in AV’s Albuquerque, NM facility that was announced in March of 2026.  

“This program represents the culmination of years of operational lessons learned and rapid prototyping,” said John Garrity, Vice President of Directed Energy Systems at AV. “E-HEL is not a future capability, it is a production-ready system, built on proven technology, and designed to meet the demands of today’s fight while scaling for tomorrow’s threats.” 

The award further reinforces AV’s leadership in directed energy and its role as a trusted partner to the U.S. Department of War. The company’s platform-agnostic approach enables integration across multiple mission sets and platforms, ensuring flexibility and rapid deployment in diverse operational environments. 

As the Army transitions to procurement at scale, the E-HEL program establishes a foundation for sustained production, innovation, and fielding of next-generation laser weapon systems, delivering capability “at the speed of light.” 

Source : AeroVironment, Inc.