US Army Buys $400 Million in AeroVironment Counter-Drone Lasers

The United States Army will purchase at least $400 million worth of counter-drone lasers from AeroVironment Inc. The contract focuses on the Locust system, an AI-assisted high-energy laser designed to track and destroy small- to medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles. This agreement represents the first production contract for a directed energy counter-drone system to move beyond the prototype phase.

Pentagon officials are pursuing the acquisition to find more affordable and sustainable alternatives to expensive interceptors, citing the proliferation of drones in conflicts involving Ukraine and Iran. The move aligns with directives from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to expand military drone production and achieve drone dominance.

The Locust system previously faced scrutiny during testing near the Mexico border. During those trials, the system inadvertently shot down a drone operated by US Customs and Border Protection, which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close airspace in El Paso, Texas.