LOCUST Laser Weapon System: How the U.S. Army is Revolutionizing Drone Defense with Directed Energy

A U.S. Army Infantry Squad Vehicle equipped with the 20kW-class LOCUST laser weapon system—providing frontline units with mobile, silent, and precise counter-drone capabilities in contested environments.

 The development and fielding of the 20kW-class LOCUST laser weapon system by AeroVironment for the United States Army marks a decisive shift in how modern military forces confront emerging aerial threats. This system is not a prototype in a lab or a theoretical capability under discussion—it is a fieldable, deployable, and operationally relevant directed-energy weapon built to meet the tactical needs of light and mobile infantry forces operating in highly contested and fast-evolving combat zones.

The LOCUST system, short for Laser Operation Compact Utility System, represents a compact, high-energy laser integrated onto the General Motors Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), a lightweight, agile platform designed to transport a nine-soldier infantry squad across difficult terrain. The purpose of this integration is to give frontline units a self-contained and mobile counter-drone solution that does not rely on air defense units positioned miles away or on larger, more logistically intensive platforms. The significance of this lies in the operational autonomy it grants small units in dispersed environments—particularly important as the Army moves toward more distributed and expeditionary warfare concepts.

This laser weapon system is engineered to engage small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), specifically Class I and Class II drones. These are the types of threats that have become increasingly accessible to both state and non-state actors due to the widespread availability of commercial drone technology. These drones can be used for surveillance, spotting for indirect fires, dropping small munitions, or even acting as loitering suicide devices. The LOCUST system is capable of tracking and engaging such threats with high precision using directed energy, meaning it can apply heat energy to critical components of the drone—either disabling it mid-flight or destroying it outright. This engagement process is silent, nearly instantaneous, and generates no shrapnel or explosive aftermath, which significantly reduces the risk of collateral damage in civilian or urban areas.

What makes the LOCUST system particularly significant from a military standpoint is not just its kill mechanism, but how it fits into the broader operational picture. Because the ISV platform is air-transportable by CH-47 Chinook and sling-load capable under a UH-60 Black Hawk, units equipped with LOCUST can be inserted rapidly into forward positions. This aligns with the U.S. Army’s vision of highly mobile, fast-reacting, and dispersed combat teams that can operate independently in denied or semi-permissive environments. It also reinforces the Army’s shift toward integrating advanced technologies at lower echelons of command, empowering platoons and companies with tools that previously only existed at higher levels of force structure.

The 20kW power level of the LOCUST laser system places it in the category of short-range, tactical directed energy weapons. It is optimized for defeating low-flying, slow-to-medium speed drones within line-of-sight range—ideal for protecting dismounted troops, forward operating bases, and logistics convoys from sudden aerial intrusions. While larger systems may boast higher power outputs or broader engagement envelopes, the trade-off in mobility and logistical complexity makes them less suited to the environments in which ISV-mounted systems are expected to operate. LOCUST, by contrast, is designed for agility, minimal logistical footprint, and rapid deployment—core principles that reflect the U.S. military’s lessons from recent conflicts and its anticipation of future ones.

In addition to the two systems delivered on ISV platforms, AeroVironment is also developing variants of LOCUST for integration on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), a more robust and power-capable platform. These upcoming versions will include onboard radar systems, automated target acquisition tools, and enhanced command and control interfaces. The objective is to expand the capability of the system, enabling it not only to react to threats but to detect, track, and assess them autonomously before human intervention. These enhancements point toward a future where directed energy systems are fully integrated into battlefield networks, sharing threat data across units and contributing to a unified and responsive air defense posture.

The concept of energy-based weapons is not new to the U.S. military. However, the recent advances in power generation, battery storage, beam control, and precision tracking have brought laser systems into the realm of practical battlefield application. In the case of LOCUST, the system’s power is supplied by onboard electrical generation units designed to operate in harsh environments. Because it does not rely on traditional munitions, the weapon can fire repeatedly as long as sufficient power is available. This gives it a virtually unlimited magazine capacity, something no kinetic system can offer. In scenarios involving swarming drones, where multiple targets may approach simultaneously, the ability to engage each with sustained directed energy becomes a significant tactical advantage.

Moreover, the cost-efficiency of laser systems cannot be overstated. Traditional interceptors or anti-aircraft munitions can cost tens of thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars per engagement. In contrast, each laser shot from LOCUST costs only the amount of energy used, typically a few dollars or less. This is critical in long-duration operations where resupply lines may be contested or in situations where large numbers of drones are deployed in saturation attacks. A low cost per shot not only extends operational endurance but also preserves high-cost assets for more demanding threats.

The operational training of soldiers to use LOCUST systems has already begun, signaling the Army’s confidence in the technology and its readiness for frontline integration. These training efforts focus on system maintenance, rules of engagement, identification of threats, and integration into broader tactical formations. As soldiers gain familiarity with the system, feedback will guide further refinements in user interface, targeting logic, and coordination with adjacent systems.

The LOCUST system does not operate in a vacuum. It is part of a larger layered defense strategy that includes radar systems, traditional air defense artillery, electronic warfare tools, and other emerging directed energy platforms. The Army’s broader vision includes integrating these systems into a common operating picture that allows threats to be tracked, analyzed, and assigned to the most appropriate response mechanism. In many cases, LOCUST will serve as the first line of defense—especially against drones that evade radar detection due to low altitude or small size. Its role is to handle the threats that slip through or appear too suddenly for conventional systems to address.

The investment in LOCUST also reflects a strategic recognition of how rapidly drone threats have evolved. In the last decade, drones have shifted from intelligence-gathering tools to frontline strike weapons. Adversaries have demonstrated the ability to coordinate drone swarms, fly low to avoid detection, and employ AI-based pathing to navigate complex environments. Traditional defense systems were not designed to respond to these conditions. By fielding LOCUST, the Army is not only catching up but getting ahead of the curve—deploying a flexible, scalable technology that can evolve in lockstep with the threat landscape.

While the LOCUST system is currently focused on counter-drone roles, its underlying technology lays the foundation for broader directed energy applications. Future enhancements may increase power output, enabling engagement of faster targets, larger aerial systems, or even incoming artillery shells. With continued development, the same modular components could be adapted for naval, airborne, or fixed-site use, making LOCUST a flexible part of the Department of Defense’s wider modernization roadmap.

This program is a clear example of the U.S. commitment to maintaining technological dominance on the battlefield through rapid innovation, close cooperation between industry and military users, and strategic foresight. AeroVironment’s ability to deliver the system on time, integrate it onto an existing combat vehicle, and pass government testing reflects the maturity of the platform and the strength of the development pipeline. It is not a science experiment or a proof of concept—it is a combat-ready weapon that reflects where modern warfighting is headed.

The 20kW-class LOCUST laser weapon system represents a convergence of mobility, technology, and tactical necessity. It answers a specific operational need with a practical solution and does so in a way that reinforces the U.S. military’s broader strategic priorities: speed, flexibility, precision, and cost-efficiency. It is a tool designed not for theoretical future wars, but for the threats that exist right now—threats that demand fast, smart, and sustainable responses. Through programs like AMP-HEL and platforms like LOCUST, the United States is not just preparing for the future battlefield—it is shaping it.