The US Army has authorized its first production contract for a directed energy weapons system designed to take down uncrewed threats with high-energy lasers.
Designed under the Enduring High Energy Laser program (E-HEL), the LOCUST X3 laser counter-drone system weapon dramatically reduces the cost of taking out threats like adversarial drones compared with expensive kinetic missile systems. AeroVironment, Inc., of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will produce the new laser weapons for the U.S. Army.
The move marks a major step toward turning what was once a science-fiction trope into a battlefield reality alongside AI, drones, and other advanced technologies.
America’s Laser Weapon
“This first-of-its-kind directed energy program will enable our formations to defeat unmanned systems and dominate from the outset. Pairing human ingenuity with advanced technology is what ensures our Army will continue to outpace America’s adversaries,” stated General Christopher LaNeve, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
LOCUST X3 draws electrical energy from a magazine to produce the system’s high-energy beam. The system’s power supply then regenerates that magazine, preparing it for further action. This means that, on a per-shot basis, the system is far cheaper to operate than kinetic weapons like missiles, which are expended when fired.
As a result, countering the growing threat posed by uncrewed aerial vehicles could become considerably less economically burdensome. The technology could also help mitigate logistics and supply challenges, which have become a major concern amid the U.S.-Iran war as reports of dangerously low missile stockpiles continue to emerge.
Across Varying Battlefields
“The key to successfully countering all levels of drones is a layered defense of sensors and effectors. AV and the Army have worked for years to develop directed energy solutions, and we are proud to give our soldiers a decisive edge against drone threats,” said the Honorable Mike Obadal, Under Secretary of the Army.
The E-HEL system is designed to be modular, with 11 major interfaces allowing it to be integrated with a variety of platforms and vehicles. With this flexibility, the system can be deployed at permanent installations, temporary bases, and aboard mobile vehicles. Its design also allows for ongoing upgrades as the technology improves. According to U.S. Army Public Affairs, this modular approach will allow LOCUST X3 to be quickly integrated and used across a wide variety of operations.
Making the Laser Weapon a Reality
The contract to develop the systems is valued at $465 million.
“The E-HEL program is an example of how the Army has successfully utilized MOSA, a key element of acquisition reform, as part of our efforts to field technology quickly with an interface to upgrade in the future,” said the Honorable Brent Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and Army Acquisition Executive. “Directed energy weapons have been considered S&T projects, and I’m proud that the Army is moving at speed and scale to deliver this first time capability,” he concluded.
Moving beyond its origins as an expensive laboratory technology, the E-HEL program is bringing laser weapons closer to widespread practical use. According to the Army, the system is scalable and affordable enough for broad integration, with dozens expected to be delivered annually. No longer relegated to testing, the Army is now working to integrate the system across the force, ensuring units will be prepared to deploy it against uncrewed aerial threats once it arrives.
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.