Leonardo DRS Joins Army Laser Weapon Program
The defense firm will supply power, cooling and vehicle integration hardware for AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 laser.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Robotics
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Leonardo DRS has joined AeroVironment as a subcontractor on the U.S. Army's Enduring-High Energy Laser program, which AeroVironment won in September 2026 under a $464.8 million production contract. Neither company disclosed the subcontract's value, system count or delivery timing.
Why it matters
The Army described E-HEL as its first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon, marking a step from prototyping to fielding. The subcontract shows how a laser weapon depends on electrical power and heat management supplied by specialized partners.
The LOCUST X3 is a 30-kilowatt laser designed to shoot down small drones, with AeroVironment saying each shot costs less than $10. Leonardo DRS will handle the power, cooling and vehicle integration that the system requires, but the subcontract's size and delivery schedule remain undisclosed.
The players
AeroVironment
A U.S. defense technology company that acquired the LOCUST laser family through its 2025 purchase of BlueHalo and holds the E-HEL production contract.
Leonardo DRS
The U.S. defense electronics subsidiary of Italy's Leonardo that is supplying power, cooling and vehicle integration hardware for the laser system.
U.S. Army
The military service that awarded the E-HEL contract as its first production procurement for a high-energy laser weapon.
The details
Leonardo DRS took part in a rapid prototyping effort with AeroVironment in 2024 and 2025, providing vehicle integration, power, cooling and systems engineering for live-fire tests. AeroVironment acquired the LOCUST family when it bought BlueHalo in 2025 and says it will deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 systems over the next few years.
Timeline
September 2026: The Army awarded AeroVironment the E-HEL contract valued at $464.8 million.
2024 and 2025: Leonardo DRS supported live-fire prototype tests with AeroVironment.
2025: AeroVironment acquired BlueHalo, including the LOCUST family.
November 2, 2026: DRS announced its subcontract role on E-HEL.
The Tech Race
The Enduring-High Energy Laser program moves the Army from prototype demonstrations into its first production contract for a directed-energy weapon. The LOCUST X3's sub-$10 per-shot cost is positioned as an alternative to interceptor missiles for countering small drones.
The laser weapon's power and cooling demands mean the system relies on substantial energy infrastructure rather than small battery packs. For most readers the program affects defense procurement and counter-drone capability rather than consumer products.
The takeaway
Directed-energy weapons depend as much on electrical power and heat removal as on the laser itself, so the supporting subcontractors matter to whether these systems reach the field. Watch for the undisclosed delivery schedule to show how quickly the Army fields them.
Further reading
For more on the machines behind these systems, explore our Robotics coverage.
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