US Army LOCUST X3 palletized high-energy laser for counter-UAS on JLTV

The U.S. Army is moving toward fielding AeroVironment’s LOCUST X3 modular, palletized high-energy laser as an operational counter-drone weapon, with first delivery targeted for late FY2027 and potential readiness by early 2028. The novelty is the planned scalable, field-maintainable directed-energy C-UAS system integrated onto tactical vehicles (e.g., JLTV/ISV) and procured in quantity (26+ units), indicating transition from prototypes to deployable capability.