US Army moves away from dedicated laser vehicles modular LOCUST X3 laser turns standard army trucks into speed-of-light counter-drone rigs for $5 a shot

Date:
Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:10:00 +0000

Description:
The US Army is pursuing modular LOCUST X3 lasers for flexible counter-drone defence, despite reliability, range and power limitations.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The US Army wants laser weapons transferable between ordinary military vehicles LOCUST X3 could destroy
drones for $5 to $10 per engagement Detachable laser mounts could prevent vehicle repairs from disabling weapons The US Army wants modular lasers that mount on ordinary trucks, and AeroVironment won the initial manufacturing award for its 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3 in September 2026.

The weapon is designed to destroy Group 1 to 3 drones , which cover aircraft from roughly 9 kg (20 pounds) to 600 kg (1,320 pounds). AeroVironment puts each engagement below $10, while a March 2026 trade report cited $5 per shot, a figure the company has not itemized. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch
full video here: Sled design frees lasers from single vehicles In 2022, the Army reactivated an air defense battalion at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for laser-armed Stryker vehicles, yet reliability problems shifted its focus.

Were getting to the point where the systems are reliable enough, but we still have to make them maintainable and repairable because this is an Army system, said Kirk Williams, Chief Engineer at the Armys Directed Energy Project Office. You may like 'Its not unlike what theyre using at their own house for video games': US Army budgets $465 million for Group 3 Killer anti-drone
laser which uses Xbox controller South Korea unveils world's first fielded laser air defense weapon Hanwha's Cheongwang downs drones in 1 second for just $1.50 a shot US DOW invests in wireless laser self-charging tech to keep autonomous drones airborne almost indefinitely ARC can deliver 'kilowatt-class' power to units 5,000 ft away

Its going to be on a battlefield. Things are going to break. We can break things in very creative ways, right? So if its not reliable, or if its not maintainable, if its not repairable, thats a problem.

Under the plan, the laser sits on a detachable frame that moves between platforms, so a truck needing maintenance no longer sidelines the weapon. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro
newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Were focused on any vehicle in the motorpool. I want to try to integrate future capability of high-energy lasers into it, said Brig. Gen. Guy Yelverton, the Armys Capability Program Executive for Defensive Fires.

AeroVironment lists output between 20 and 35 kilowatts depending on mission, with an in-house AI system called Halo Pinpoint handling detection, tracking and engagement. Range, power, and delivery timeline limit the promise A
single laser engages one drone at a time, and its beam weakens over distance, while smoke, dust and weather reduce effectiveness further. What to read next US Army backs giant surveillance balloons with $447m contract despite growing threat from drones Ukraine military to get DragonFire-style drone-killing lasers within months US Army is hunting for surface-to-air missiles able to take down small drones

Battery power gives roughly 80 to 120 seconds of firing depending on the system, according to Yelverton, and the magazine refills once the beam stops.

At 30 kilowatts, the X3 ranks among the weaker laser weapons, and every
LOCUST version so far counters only small drones.

The service expects first X3 units in operation by early 2028, while a separate containerized laser aims for 150 kilowatts.

Scott Keeney, chief executive of nLIGHT, a laser developer working with AeroVironment, expects scaling to one megawatt, a level the Navy has also discussed.

The Army contract is worth $464.8 million, and AeroVironment separately reported its initial international order, valued above $50 million, on September 8th.

The company is spending over $30 million to expand its Albuquerque campus, which should add 450 jobs and an estimated $670 million economic impact.

The Army attributes several successful engagements to LOCUST, including a drone interception dated August 25, 2026, near the southern border.

However, without released engagement data, independent verification of the militarys claims remains limited.

Via TWZ Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/us-army-moves-away-from-dedicated-laser-vehicles -modular-locust-x3-laser-turns-standard-army-trucks-into-speed-of-light-counte r-drone-rigs-for-usd5-a-shot


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)