AeroVironment touts $5-per-shot anti-drone laser in Huntsville

Zoom in: At AUSA Global Force on Tuesday, AeroVironment showcased Locust X3, the latest version of its high-energy laser weapon system, built with a focus on scalability and flexibility.

• It features a 25kW-30kW laser, a modular beam director and AI-enabled detection, tracking and engagement automation, per AV.
• It's built to be platform-agnostic, integrating on vehicles like the Infantry Squad Vehicle and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

What they're saying: "We're spending millions of dollars on missiles to shoot down a $20,000 drone," said John Garrity, vice president of directed energy systems. "Regardless of whether or not we kill that drone, we're losing the economics of warfare."

• He said, "This is effectively just the cost of power generation going into the system."
• "A big focus for this system is the Army's Enduring High-Energy Laser program, which is the active competition for the first Army program of record," he told reporters Tuesday. "And we're confident that the technology speaks for itself."

Catch up quick: Earlier this month, AeroVironment announced a $97.4 million Army contract to build advanced missile and sensor testing facilities at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

Zoom out: AeroVironment wasn't the only company to announce counter-drone system news Tuesday.

• L3Harris announced that it has initiated in a Huntsville facility high-volume production of its VAMPIRE counter-unmanned system, which offers a "flexible assembly, testing and installation area" that can "adjust and increase volume as demand evolves."
• The company says, "The new production line is a direct response to the United States' and its allies' need to combat the persistent drone threat posing risks to military personnel and infrastructure."