The US Army has awarded AeroVironment a USD464.8 million contract to produce its LOCUST X3 laser weapon system under the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) programme.
The Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) covers the delivery of dozens of LOCUST X3 systems over the next few years, along with system support and training. The 30kW, platform-agnostic system is designed to counter Group 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
AeroVironment will integrate the system onto platforms including the Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), with palletised configurations also planned. The company is assessing potential integration with the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).
The E-HEL programme moves LOCUST from prototyping into production. According to AeroVironment, the award is the “first-ever production contract” for a directed-energy system in US history. Breaking Defense also reported that the Army described the award as its first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon.
The contract follows LOCUST testing at White Sands Missile Range, where AeroVironment said the system demonstrated counter-drone operations in US airspace. Production will be supported by a USD30 million expansion of AeroVironment’s Albuquerque, New Mexico facility announced earlier this year.
AeroVironment has previously supplied the Army with LOCUST systems under the Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) programme.
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(Image: AeroVironment)
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