On September 3, AeroVironment (AV) announced that it has delivered the first two units of its Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) system to the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).
This marks a significant milestone in the Army’s effort to field directed energy capabilities for counter-UAS operations.
The AMP-HEL prototypes feature AV’s 20kW-class LOCUST Laser Weapon System, integrated onto the General Motors Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle platform. The mobile systems are designed to detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones in dynamic operational environments, offering a compact and energy-efficient alternative to traditional kinetic interceptors.
“This milestone marks a major step forward in the Army’s pursuit of fieldable directed energy capabilities,” said Mary Clum, Senior Vice President for AV’s Space & Directed Energy Group. “We are honored to support the U.S. Army RCCTO and accelerate warfighter access to these critical capabilities.”
Following integration at AV’s Directed Energy facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the systems underwent government acceptance testing at Yuma Proving Ground, validating performance, mobility, and lethality.
Army units then conducted new equipment training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with soldier feedback informing ongoing refinements and future system iterations.
The AMP-HEL program is part of the Army’s broader modernization strategy to deploy scalable, expeditionary force protection solutions.
The integration of laser systems onto lightweight platforms reflects a shift toward mobile, frontline counter-UAS capabilities that can be rapidly deployed across diverse terrains and threat environments, from forward operating bases to urban defense zones.
“The need for these systems from real-world events is clear,” said John Garrity, Vice President of Directed Energy Systems. “The time is now for directed energy to get into the hands of warfighters everywhere.”
AV is scheduled to deliver a second increment next month, featuring Joint Light Tactical Vehicles equipped with LOCUST lasers, radar, and command-and-control systems.
The Army’s investment signals growing confidence in directed energy as a core component of future airspace defense, one that complements kinetic and electronic warfare layers in a fully integrated counter-UAS architecture.
Post Image Credit: AeroVironment
