LOCUST® Laser System Leads U.S. Military's Battle-Proven Counter-UAS Defense
The LOCUST® (Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology) laser weapon system is the U.S. military's most combat-validated directed energy platform, offering unlimited engagements powered solely by electricity. With extensive real-world testing complete, LOCUST® is confirmed ready for immediate deployment against the growing threat of drone swarms and low-cost commercial UAVs on the modern battlefield.
Highlights
- LOCUST® (Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology) is the U.S. military's most combat-validated laser-based counter-UAS weapon system, confirmed ready for immediate deployment.
- The system operates solely on electrical power, eliminating the need for physical munitions and reducing the marginal cost per drone intercept to near zero.
- LOCUST® has completed extensive real-world operational testing, distinguishing it from other directed energy weapon programs still in development.
- The system is specifically designed to counter asymmetric threats such as low-cost commercial drones and coordinated drone swarms on the modern battlefield.
- Directed energy weapons like LOCUST® are expected to play an increasingly central role in U.S. and allied air defense frameworks as drone threats continue to escalate.
Within the U.S. military's arsenal, the LOCUST® (Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology) laser weapon system continues to lead the counter-UAS (C-UAS) defense space, backed by an extensive record of operational validation.
A Revolutionary Advantage: Low Cost and Unlimited Engagements
The defining strength of the LOCUST® system lies in its effectively unlimited magazine. Unlike conventional kinetic interceptors — such as missiles or artillery rounds — that consume physical munitions with every engagement, laser weapon systems require only electrical power to operate continuously. This fundamentally reduces the marginal cost per intercept and eliminates the logistical challenges associated with munitions resupply and inventory management.
Combat-Validated and Ready to Deploy Today
According to the latest reporting, LOCUST® has completed extensive operational testing and real-world validation, confirming that its counter-UAS capability has reached a maturity level sufficient for immediate deployment. This represents a significant operational milestone for defense forces facing increasingly serious drone threats.
On the modern battlefield, the proliferation of low-cost commercial drones and coordinated drone swarms has become a key tool of asymmetric warfare. LOCUST® offers a proven solution capable of addressing these threats continuously and at low cost per engagement.
A Landmark Advance for the Counter-UAS Market
The ongoing refinement of the LOCUST® system marks an important milestone in the operational maturation of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW). Laser systems are widely regarded as one of the critical technology pillars for future C-UAS architecture, owing to their rapid response times, high precision, and low operating costs.
As the drone threat landscape continues to evolve rapidly, the battle-proven LOCUST® system is expected to play an increasingly important role in the air defense frameworks of both the United States and its allies.
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