Leonardo DRS will provide power and thermal management support for the LOCUST X3 laser system being produced by AeroVironment for the US Army.
Leonardo DRS, selected by AeroVironment (AV) to participate in the US Army’s Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL) production programme, will provide support in power management, environmental control and thermal management for the mobile high-energy laser system developed to counter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threats. In September 2026, the US Army announced that it had awarded AeroVironment the programme’s first production contract for high-energy laser weapon systems. The programme aims to provide soldiers with a scalable and cost-effective directed-energy capability against UAV threats.
Leonardo DRS will serve as a subcontractor for the production of LOCUST X3 laser weapon systems under AeroVironment’s E-HEL programme. The 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3 is designed for integration into various military platforms, including the US Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The system also offers pallet-mounted configuration options.
Integration Under the E-HEL Programme
Leonardo DRS President and CEO John Baylouny stated that the US Army’s transition to the production phase highlights the importance of deployable, scalable directed-energy systems against evolving UAV threats. He noted that the company would bring its integration expertise to the E-HEL programme through its collaboration with AeroVironment. Aaron Hankins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Leonardo DRS Land Systems, emphasised that evolving UAV threats are increasing the need for systems capable of delivering reliable performance under challenging operational conditions. He added that the company is supporting the delivery of a mobile high-energy laser capability to the US Army through its experience in vehicle integration, power management and thermal management.
Building on its previous experience in integrating directed-energy systems, Leonardo DRS had conducted rapid prototyping activities with AeroVironment and other industry partners to develop a mobile counter-UAV directed-energy capability integrated into an armoured vehicle. During these efforts, Leonardo DRS provided support in vehicle integration, power management, thermal management and systems engineering for live-fire evaluations and training activities conducted for the US government in 2024 and 2025. The company aims to apply this experience to the E-HEL programme, supporting the US Army’s counter-UAV missions and broader defence modernisation efforts.
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Source: C4Defence – Leonardo DRS
