U.S. Army Secures $465 Million Contract for New Anti‑Drone Laser System Leveraging Gaming‑Controller Interface

The U.S. Army announced a $465 million procurement contract with AeroVironment, Inc. for its LOCUST X3 laser platform, a system classified as a “Group 3 Killer” designed to neutralize high‑risk unmanned aerial systems.

Group 3 Killer weapons target the most hazardous category of drones, typically those capable of carrying payloads or operating in contested airspace. By focusing on these advanced threats, the Army aims to protect troops and critical infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated aerial attacks.

The LOCUST X3 integrates a high‑energy laser with a commercial Xbox controller, allowing operators to acquire and track targets using a familiar, ergonomic interface. This design choice is intended to reduce training time and improve response accuracy in fast‑moving combat scenarios.

The contract arrives amid a broader surge in counter‑UAS initiatives across the services, driven by the proliferation of commercially available drones and their demonstrated use in recent conflicts. Military planners have highlighted the need for portable, scalable solutions that can be fielded quickly to counter both hobbyist‑level and purpose‑built hostile drones.

While AeroVironment has not disclosed a specific deployment schedule, the scale of the investment suggests the LOCUST X3 will move from testing to operational units within the next few years. Analysts expect the system to complement existing layered defenses, offering a directed‑energy option that can engage targets silently and with minimal logistical footprint, potentially reshaping how the Army counters aerial threats in the future.