US Army Awards $465 Million Contract for AeroVironment’s LOCUST X3 Anti-Drone Laser, Featuring Xbox Controller Interface

A new US Army contract worth approximately $465 million has been awarded to AeroVironment, Inc. for the LOCUST X3, a 30-kilowatt directed-energy weapon designed to be mounted on military vehicles.

The system is specifically engineered to neutralize mid-sized attack drones classified by the Department of Defense as “Group 3” — unmanned aerial vehicles weighing up to 1,350 pounds that can carry a 125-pound payload over distances of 8 miles.

A notable feature of the LOCUST X3 is its intuitive control scheme: operators, including soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Space Force guardians, can aim the laser using a standard Xbox controller, making the system familiar to troops who grew up with gaming peripherals.

“The apex predator”

Incredibly, this is the first high-energy laser weapon to be awarded a production contract in US history, following several years of development that included military testing.

Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at AeroVironment, Inc., said: “The transition of directed energy from experimentation to an enduring, fielded capability reflects years of collaboration, innovation, and operational success alongside the U.S. Army.”

Aaron Westman, senior director for business development at AeroVironment, Inc., outlined the system’s role: “It can really kill a lot of threats. Its job is to really, let’s say, thin the herd to be able to kill high volumes of threats.”

John Garrity, vice president of directed energy systems at AeroVironment, Inc., expanded on the use of an Xbox controller for targeting. “To a young soldier, sailor, airman, guardian that’s using these systems, it’s not unlike what they’re using at their own house for video games,” he noted.

“Group 3 killer”

The LOCUST X3 is intended to dispatch attacking drones efficiently. But what does “Group 3” actually mean?

Garrity told reporters that “LOCUST X3 is intended to be the Group 3 killer. When we talk about Group 3, that’s just one of the more prevalent threats that you see in warfare today, seen in conflicts in Iran and in Ukraine with Shahed drones.” The LOCUST X3 is part of the US Army’s multi-layered defense against Group 1-3 UAV threats, complementing other weapons.

The one-way Shahed-136 drones have been used against US troops in the Middle East. The LOCUST X3 is positioned as a solution, and not just due to its portability. It also has longer range than many similar countermeasures.

US interceptor missiles are believed to be largely depleted thanks to the conflict with Iran. Anti-drone weapons like the LOCUST X3 are viewed as a forward-thinking alternative.

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