https://www.reuters.com/business/aerosp ... 026-02-12/WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army deployed AeroVironment Inc's (AVAV.O), opens new tab LOCUST laser counter-drone weapon system near El Paso International Airport on Wednesday, leading to a seven-hour airspace shutdown, two people briefed on the situation told Reuters.
The use of the 20-kilowatt LOCUST direct-energy weapon, which has not previously been reported, is a rare known example of the U.S. deploying cutting-edge counter-drone technology capable of defeating flying objects at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptor missiles.
AeroVironment and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted air traffic for more than seven hours in and out of the Texas border city of El Paso earlier on Wednesday after raising concerns that the Army's laser-based counter-drone system, housed at Fort Bliss adjacent to the airport, could pose risks to commercial air traffic, government and airline officials told Reuters.
Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say (11. 2. 2026)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airspace-c ... urces-say/The unexpected but brief airspace closure in the Texas border city of El Paso stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests, multiple sources close to the matter told CBS News.
The Pentagon had undertaken extensive planning on the use of military technology near Fort Bliss, a military base that abuts the El Paso International Airport, to practice taking down drones.
Two sources identified the technology as a high-energy laser.
Meetings were scheduled over safety impacts, but Pentagon officials wanted to test the technology sooner, stating that U.S. Code 130i requirements governing the protection of certain facilities from unmanned aircraft had been met.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Tuesday night decided to close the airspace — without alerting White House, Pentagon or Homeland Security officials, sources said.
Bedford told officials the airspace restrictions would be in place to ensure safety until issues with the War Department could be resolved.
The FAA declined to comment.
AV Delivers JLTV-Mounted LOCUST Laser Weapon Systems to U.S. Army (18. Dezember 2025)
https://www.avinc.com/resources/press-r ... o-u.s-armyARLINGTON, Va., December 18, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leading provider of counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) technologies, today announced the successful delivery of two Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)-mounted mobile C-UAS Laser Weapon Systems (LWS) to the U.S. Army as part of the second increment of the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) prototyping effort. These systems were delivered to the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), now integrated into the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires, reflecting the Army’s ongoing transformation and acquisition reform efforts.
In September, AV announced delivery of the first increment of AMP-HEL prototype systems–two LOCUST LWS integrated on the General Motors Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) platform. This second-increment system on the Oshkosh JLTV platform features the same 20kW-class LOCUST LWS with a larger aperture beam director, improving lethality performance.
Contracts For Jun. 26, 2018
https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Cont ... n-26-2018/Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $29,688,168 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Low Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) Innovative Naval Prototype (INP). Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and work is expected to be completed by Jan. 25, 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,129,599 will be obligated at the time of award. No funds will expire at end of current year. This contract was competitively procured under N00014-18-S-B001 entitled, Long-range broad agency announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology. Since proposals will be received throughout the year under the long-range BAA, the number of proposals received in response to the solicitation is unknown. The Office of Naval Research. Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-18-C-1020).
LOCUST: Autonomous, swarming UAVs fly into the future (14. April 2015)
https://www.onr.navy.mil/media-center/n ... fly-future
