Leonardo DRS Selected by AV to Power and Cool the US Army's First Production Anti-Drone Laser

AeroVironment has selected Leonardo DRS to provide integration, electrical-power management and thermal-management expertise for the US Army's Enduring-High Energy Laser production programme. The subcontract supports production of AV's 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3, a counter-drone laser designed for vehicle integration, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or palletised deployment. The Army awarded AV the E-HEL production agreement in September 2026, moving the capability beyond prototype development. DRS will apply experience gained during earlier mobile directed-energy integration work and government live-fire evaluations conducted in 2024 and 2025 to the production effort.