The U.S. Army will purchase $400 million worth of Locust anti-drone laser systems
The U.S. Army plans to award AeroVironment a contract worth at least $400 million to purchase Locust laser systems for countering drones.
The Pentagon is expected to order the first mass production of laser weapons to counter drones following the completion of development and testing of a prototype.
According to preliminary data, the U.S. Army will receive dozens of Locust systems manufactured by AeroVironment. The company is based in Arlington, Virginia.
Locust is a high-energy laser system designed to destroy drones. It uses artificial intelligence to detect, track, and identify small and medium-sized drones, after which it assists the operator in engaging the target with a laser beam.
AeroVironment is developing Locust as a versatile system that can be mounted on both fixed and mobile platforms.
Its capabilities include high-precision real-time target tracking and integration with command and control networks.
In March 2026, AeroVironment unveiled the third generation of the system—the Locust X3. Prior to this, the system had already been tested on various military platforms.
The development of such systems is becoming particularly important due to the widespread use of relatively inexpensive drones. To destroy them, traditional air defense systems may have to use significantly more expensive interceptor missiles.
Therefore, laser weapons are viewed as an additional layer of protection against drones, which could potentially reduce the cost of engaging numerous small aerial targets.
The expected contract for the Locust will mark an important step in the U.S. Army’s transition from testing laser systems to their full-scale deployment.
Bloomberg reports this, citing its own sources.
The U.S. Army has begun searching for companies capable of developing an affordable surface-to-air missile to combat drones. The new project involves the development of an effective anti-drone missile with specific requirements for cost and range.
The U.S. is stepping back from leading the aid group for Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the agreement signed in 2025 between Ukraine and the United States on cooperation in the field of mineral resources is “very beneficial” for Washington. According to him, thanks to these agreements, the U.S. could reap significant profits from access to Ukrainian resources.
The Pentagon is developing a new nuclear weapons strategy for a war with China or Russia, according to NBC.
