US Army moves away from dedicated laser vehicles — modular LOCUST X3 laser turns standard army trucks into…

• The US Army wants laser weapons transferable between ordinary military vehicles
• LOCUST X3 could destroy drones for $5 to $10 per engagement
• Detachable laser mounts could prevent vehicle repairs from disabling weapons

The US Army wants modular lasers that mount on ordinary trucks, and AeroVironment won the initial manufacturing award for its 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3 in September 2026.

The weapon is designed to destroy Group 1 to 3 drones, which cover aircraft from roughly 9 kg (20 pounds) to 600 kg (1,320 pounds).

AeroVironment puts each engagement below $10, while a March 2026 trade report cited $5 per shot, a figure the company has not itemized.

Sled design frees lasers from single vehicles

In 2022, the Army reactivated an air defense battalion at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for laser-armed Stryker vehicles, yet reliability problems shifted its focus.

“We’re getting to the point where the systems are reliable enough, but we...

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