What is the LOCUST® laser weapon system?

LOCUST® is a directed-energy laser weapon system developed by AeroVironment (AV) specifically for counter-UAS (C-UAS) operations. It is designed to neutralize drone threats at a very low cost per engagement and can be integrated across multiple platforms without modification.

Why did Army Secretary Pete Hegseth visit White Sands Missile Range?

Secretary Hegseth attended a live demonstration of AeroVironment's LOCUST® laser weapon system at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, signaling the U.S. Army's strong interest in directed-energy solutions for counter-drone defense.

What makes directed-energy weapons better than traditional counter-drone methods?

Traditional intercept methods, such as missiles or jamming, are expensive and difficult to sustain at scale. Directed-energy systems like LOCUST® offer an extremely low cost-per-shot, are rapidly deployable, and can engage multiple drone threats in quick succession, making them a more cost-effective and scalable C-UAS solution.

Army Secretary Hegseth Witnesses AeroVironment LOCUST® Laser Weapon System Demo at White Sands Missile Range

U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth visited White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to observe a live demonstration of AeroVironment's LOCUST® laser weapon system. Designed for counter-UAS (C-UAS) directed-energy operations, the system offers low cost-per-engagement, scalability, and platform-agnostic deployment to protect critical infrastructure against evolving drone threats.

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Highlights

U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth personally observed a live demonstration of AeroVironment's LOCUST® laser weapon system at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

AeroVironment VP John Garrity confirmed LOCUST® is ready to deliver low-cost, scalable, platform-agnostic directed-energy C-UAS defense across multiple mission environments.

LOCUST® is described as the most battle-tested laser weapon system in the counter-UAS domain, validated through multiple real-world tests.

The system's low cost-per-shot intercept capability positions it as a key alternative to expensive traditional drone countermeasures.

Secretary Hegseth's attendance highlights the U.S. military's growing strategic commitment to directed-energy weapons for modern battlefield layered defense.

Army Secretary Witnesses LOCUST® Laser Weapon System C-UAS Demonstration

U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to observe a live demonstration of AeroVironment's (AV) LOCUST® laser weapon system, marking a significant milestone for this counter-UAS directed-energy platform.

C-UAS Directed Energy VP Highlights Key Capabilities

John Garrity, AeroVironment's Vice President of C-UAS Directed Energy, stated that the LOCUST® system is fully prepared to deliver low-cost, scalable, platform-agnostic defensive solutions across a wide range of mission environments. He emphasized the system's ability to protect critical infrastructure and counter continuously evolving threats.

Battle-Tested, Rapidly Deployable, and Built for Layered Defense

The LOCUST® system's core strengths include:

Battle-tested: Validated through multiple real-world tests, demonstrating a high degree of reliability
Rapidly deployable: Flexible design allows quick integration across diverse operational platforms
Layered defense architecture: Engineered for the modern battlefield and designed to integrate into composite air defense systems
Platform-agnostic: Not restricted to any specific vehicle or host system, offering high scalability and flexibility

Directed Energy Emerges as the New Standard in Counter-UAS

As threats from both commercial and military drones continue to intensify, traditional intercept methods are proving costly and unsustainable at scale. LOCUST® addresses this challenge through laser directed-energy technology, delivering an extremely low cost-per-shot intercept capability — widely regarded as a critical component of future C-UAS defense architecture.

Secretary Hegseth's personal attendance at the demonstration underscores the U.S. military's strong commitment to advancing directed-energy weapons development.

"This is directed-energy innovation at scale: battle-tested, deployable, and built for layered defense on the modern battlefield." — AeroVironment

LOCUST® is currently positioned as the most battle-tested laser weapon system in the counter-UAS domain, and continues to shape the future of C-UAS operations.

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