Pentagon Deploys LOCUST Laser Weapon in Directed Energy Weapons Market Push

U.S. Army Confirms LOCUST Laser Operational as Pentagon Expands DEW Program to Five Bases 

WASHINGTON, D.C. September 23, 2026, the U.S. Army has released new operational footage confirming the active deployment of AeroVironment's LOCUST directed-energy weapon system against cartel-linked unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the southern border, marking a pivotal milestone in the Pentagon's broader effort to operationalize laser-based defense across five strategic U.S. military installations. The development underscores accelerating momentum in the Directed Energy Weapons market, which is valued at USD 12.23 billion in 2026 and projected to reach USD 55.91 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 18.4%, according to Next Move Strategy Consulting. 

The footage, released on September 23, 2026, shows the LOCUST system mounted on an Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) conducting nighttime counter-UAV operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. Since the system commenced operations in August 2026, U.S. Northern Command confirmed that 11 cartel-linked drones have been neutralized, with each engagement costing approximately $10 per shot a fraction of the cost associated with conventional missile-based interceptors. 

The operational confirmation comes as the Pentagon's Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) advances a directed-energy counter-UAS pilot program at five major U.S. installations: Fort Bliss (Texas), Fort Huachuca (Arizona), Grand Forks Air Force Base (North Dakota), Whiteman Air Force Base (Missouri), and Naval Base Kitsap (Washington). The program integrates high-energy laser and high-power microwave systems to defend critical infrastructure against the growing threat of small unmanned aerial systems. 

AeroVironment's LOCUST was awarded a landmark $464.8 million U.S. Army contract under the Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program in early September 2026 the first large-scale production contract for a directed-energy counter-drone system in U.S. military history. The U.S. Navy is also evaluating the technology aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, signaling multi-service adoption. Additionally, an international order for LOCUST valued at $50 million was announced on September 8, 2026, though the customer nation was not publicly identified. 

Key Highlights: 

• Five-Base Pilot Program: JIATF-401 has selected Fort Bliss, Fort Huachuca, Grand Forks AFB, Whiteman AFB, and Naval Base Kitsap to field high-energy laser and high-power microwave counter-drone systems before year-end 2026. 

• Landmark Contract: AeroVironment secured a $464.8 million U.S. Army E-HEL production contract in September 2026 the first of its kind for a directed-energy counter-UAS system in the U.S. military. 

• Operational Cost Advantage: At approximately $10 per engagement, LOCUST offers a decisive cost-per-shot advantage over conventional interceptors, which can cost millions of dollars per round. 

• Multi-Domain Expansion: The U.S. Navy's evaluation of LOCUST aboard a Nimitz-class carrier and a $50 million international export order signal rapid multi-service and allied adoption of directed-energy platforms. 

Analyst Insight: 

According to analysts at Next Move Strategy Consulting, the Pentagon's accelerated transition from prototype testing to operational deployment of directed-energy weapons reflects a structural shift in U.S. defense procurement doctrine. The five-base pilot program, combined with the Army's first large-scale production contract, signals that DEW systems are no longer experimental assets but are entering the force as mission-ready, cost-effective solutions for counter-UAS operations. 

NMSC analysts note that the proliferation of low-cost drone threats particularly swarm-enabled UAVs is the primary demand driver accelerating DEW adoption, contributing an estimated +4.12% impact on the market's CAGR forecast. The cost asymmetry between a $10 laser engagement and a multi-million-dollar kinetic interceptor is increasingly untenable for defense planners, making directed-energy systems a strategic procurement priority across all branches of the U.S. military and allied forces. 

Industry Outlook: 

The Pentagon's confirmation of LOCUST's operational status at the southern border, combined with the five-base installation program and a $464.8 million production contract, represents a decisive inflection point for the directed energy weapons sector. Defense agencies are no longer evaluating whether directed-energy systems work they are now determining how rapidly these systems can be scaled, standardized, and integrated into layered defense architectures. 

North America remains the most deployment-ready regional market, driven by sustained U.S. Department of Defense funding and structured transitions from R&D to operational capability. As the Army's Joint Laser Weapon System program advances and the Navy expands its evaluation of shipboard laser platforms, the directed-energy weapons market is positioned for sustained, broad-based growth across land, naval, and airborne domains through 2035. 

Source: Army Recognition 

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Prepared By: Sanyukta Deb