U.S. Army gets first laser-armed squad vehicles

The U.S. Army has taken delivery of its first mobile laser weapon systems designed to counter unmanned aerial threats, according to a release issued September 3 by AeroVironment, Inc.

The company confirmed the handoff of two prototype Laser Weapon Systems (LWS) under the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) program, a directed energy initiative managed by the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).

The prototypes feature AeroVironment’s 20kW-class LOCUST laser system mounted on the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) platform developed by General Motors Defense. The combination reflects a tactical push toward lightweight, mobile laser solutions aimed at defeating small drones and similar airborne threats in contested environments.

“This milestone marks a major step forward in the Army’s pursuit of fieldable directed energy capabilities,” said Mary Clum, Senior Vice President for AV’s Space & Directed Energy Group. “Through the AMP-HEL program, AV is delivering our extensively validated LOCUST laser system—a technically sophisticated solution that has demonstrated reliability and operational readiness for the C-UAS fight.”

Following integration at AeroVironment’s directed energy facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the systems underwent performance and safety testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. According to the company, the tests validated key performance metrics including mobility, lethality, and operational safety.

After proving ground trials, the Army conducted new equipment training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, preparing soldiers to operate the laser systems under field conditions. AV says soldier feedback gathered during training will inform further refinements.

The AMP-HEL effort is part of the Army’s wider strategy to develop and field scalable directed energy systems capable of addressing the rising threat posed by drones and other aerial platforms. Integrating high-energy lasers on small tactical vehicles supports the Army’s broader modernization focus on expeditionary and modular capabilities that can be quickly deployed.

According to AV, the next phase of the program will include the delivery of two additional systems mounted on Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. These will feature the same 20kW LOCUST laser, as well as integrated radar and command-and-control components.

“The need for these systems from real world events is clear: the time is now for directed energy to get into the hands of warfighters everywhere and we are confident that LOCUST meets that need,” said John Garrity, Vice President of Directed Energy Systems for AV.

In a statement, Garrity added that the company is positioned to expand manufacturing to meet operational demand. “AV is committed to supporting the Army’s modernization and modularity priorities. We stand ready to meet the mission need through full-scale manufacturing of our LOCUST laser systems, including AMP-HEL and other mobile and fixed-site platforms, to increase lethality and continue to build on our extensively validated reliability and precision tracking and targeting technology to address the evolving threats.”

As laser weapons move out of testing and into deployment, officials say they are focused on making the technology reliable, mobile, and combat-ready.