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U.S. AeroVironment Mounts LOCUST X3 Laser on MUSKOX Unmanned Vehicle to Counter Mass Drone Attacks.
AeroVironment is presenting its LOCUST X3 laser weapon system mounted on American Rheinmetall’s MUSKOX unmanned ground vehicle at AUSA 2026, demonstrating a potential approach to mobile counter-drone defense. Designed to intercept aerial threats without conventional ammunition, the system could allow U.S. Army ground units to protect convoys and forward positions against repeated drone attacks while reducing reliance on costly interceptor missiles.
AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 high-energy laser counter-drone system mounted on American Rheinmetall's MUSKOX unmanned ground vehicle at AUSA 2026 in Washington, D.C., October 12, 2026. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The LOCUST X3 is the third generation of laser weapon systems developed by AeroVironment using technologies from BlueHalo, which the company acquired in 2025. Its development addresses a problem encountered across several theaters of operations: the economic imbalance between relatively inexpensive drones and the missiles required to intercept them. Unlike conventional air defense systems, which require regular ammunition replenishment, a laser weapon can conduct successive engagements without consuming physical ammunition, provided sufficient electrical power and cooling capacity are available.
The LOCUST X3 uses a high-energy laser with a scalable output ranging from 20 to more than 35 kilowatts. This configuration is intended to engage Group 1 to Group 3 unmanned aircraft, ranging from small reconnaissance drones to larger attack systems, including those belonging to the Iranian Shahed and Russian Geran families. AeroVironment also reports a capability to engage certain unmanned surface vessels, potentially extending its use to the protection of port facilities and military positions along coastal areas.
One of the system's main features is its detection and fire-control architecture. The LOCUST X3 combines a modular beam director with AV_Halo PINPOINT software, designed to automate several stages of target acquisition, tracking, and engagement. This technology is intended to reduce operator workload when multiple drones approach the same position. The laser concentrates energy on a specific area of the aircraft to damage its structure or components essential to its operation. Unlike an interceptor missile, it does not require a guided munition, but it must maintain a sufficiently stable line of sight throughout the engagement.
Cost is another factor highlighted by AeroVironment. With a reported cost of less than $5 per shot, the LOCUST X3 is intended to reduce the expense of destroying drones whose value may be considerably lower than that of the anti-aircraft missiles used against them. However, this estimate does not include system acquisition, maintenance, or electricity generation costs. Laser effectiveness also depends on atmospheric conditions, particularly rain, fog, and airborne particles, which can reduce the energy reaching the target. Its exact operational engagement range has not been publicly disclosed.
The integration of the LOCUST X3 onto the MUSKOX illustrates another potential development in counter-drone defense. Developed by American Rheinmetall, this medium-class robotic ground vehicle features a hybrid-electric propulsion system and advanced autonomous navigation functions. Initially designed for resupply and logistical support missions, it has been shortlisted under the U.S. Army's Project Sustainment program. Combining the vehicle with a laser weapon could allow an air defense capability to be deployed without exposing a crew directly on board, while accompanying the movement of ground formations. However, the electrical power available to operate the laser and the resulting endurance in this configuration remain to be clarified.
This generation builds on experience gained with earlier LOCUST systems, particularly through the U.S. Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) and Palletized High Energy Laser (PHEL) programs. Previous configurations have already been integrated onto tactical vehicles such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and Infantry Squad Vehicle. AeroVironment retains this modular architecture to facilitate installation on different vehicles or at fixed positions. The MUSKOX configuration displayed at AUSA 2026 demonstrates this integration approach, although it does not, by itself, confirm that the combined system has completed operational qualification.
In field operations, such a configuration could contribute to protecting logistics convoys, forward command posts, and mechanized units against reconnaissance drones and loitering munitions. A robotic vehicle equipped with a laser could be positioned ahead of a formation or near a sensitive location while limiting the direct exposure of soldiers responsible for operating it. This capability could be particularly relevant during repeated drone attacks, when interceptor missile inventories become a constraint. The LOCUST X3 would nevertheless remain complementary to electronic warfare equipment, anti-aircraft guns, and kinetic interceptors, particularly against simultaneous attacks or when weather conditions restrict laser employment.
This development comes as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to expose the economic and tactical challenges of defending against drones produced in large numbers. For the United States and its allies, combining robotic systems with directed-energy weapons could provide a means of protecting more units without proportionally increasing personnel and ammunition requirements. The LOCUST X3 reflects this effort to make air defense more sustainable over prolonged operations, although its effectiveness will ultimately depend on validating the reported performance under representative operational conditions.
Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.
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