AeroVironment delivered two Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)-mounted mobile laser weapon systems to the U.S. Army in December, marking the second increment of the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser prototyping effort.
The systems were delivered to the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, which has since been integrated into the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires structure as part of the Army’s broader acquisition reform and modernization efforts. The latest delivery builds on an earlier milestone in September, when AeroVironment provided two prototype laser systems mounted on the Infantry Squad Vehicle platform.
Both increments use AeroVironment’s 20-kilowatt-class LOCUST Laser Weapon System, but the JLTV-based configuration incorporates a larger aperture beam director. According to the company, this design change is intended to improve engagement performance against UAS threats while retaining the same core laser architecture.
The AMP-HEL effort is focused on developing mobile, vehicle-mounted directed energy systems capable of countering small drones in operational environments. AeroVironment first delivered a LOCUST-equipped system to the Army in 2022 under the Palletized-High Energy Laser program. Since then, variants of the system have been deployed operationally outside the U.S., where the company says they have been used to counter UAS threats and inform subsequent design refinements.
Army interest in mobile laser systems reflects a broader push to field lower-cost, reusable counter-drone capabilities as an alternative or complement to missile-based air defense systems. Directed energy weapons offer the potential for deep magazines and reduced per-shot costs, particularly against low-cost drones.
AeroVironment stated that its laser systems are designed to be platform-agnostic and compatible with Army command-and-control architectures. In addition to the ISV and JLTV, the LOCUST system has also been integrated onto other tactical vehicles for base defense and maneuver force protection roles.
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