Middle East Customer Orders $405 Million in U.S. LOCUST X3 Laser Weapon Systems to Counter Drone Threats.

The U.S. Defense Company AeroVironment has secured a $405 million order to supply LOCUST X3 high-energy laser weapon systems for counter-drone defense in the Middle East. The agreement expands regional procurement of directed-energy weapons intended to engage unmanned aircraft at a lower cost than missile interception. The purchasing country remains undisclosed, and the company has not confirmed that deliveries have begun or that the systems have entered operational service.

A U.S. Army M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle equipped with a LOCUST laser weapon system, illustrating a mobile counter-drone configuration as AeroVironment secures a $405 million LOCUST X3 order for the Middle East. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)

Key Tactical Insights:

• Expanding laser use: The order advances procurement of laser weapons for counter-drone defense, providing an additional engagement option alongside conventional air-defense systems.

• Lower engagement costs: AV says LOCUST X3 reduces engagement costs compared with missile interception, although customer-specific costs remain undisclosed and sustained operation requires power and cooling.

• What is LOCUST X3? A third-generation, 20–35-plus-kilowatt laser weapon designed to counter Group 1–3 drones, with precision tracking and configurations for fixed or mobile installations.

• Middle East drone threat: Recent reported attacks in the region show how explosive drones threaten military sites and energy infrastructure. Designed to counter Group 1–3 unmanned aircraft, LOCUST X3 offers a laser-based alternative to missile interception for suitable targets, complementing other defenses while helping conserve interceptor stocks.

The U.S. Defense Company AeroVironment announced the international direct commercial sales order on November 11, 2026. It did not disclose the number of systems, delivery timetable, or customer-specific configuration. The award therefore establishes a procurement commitment without confirming how many locations the equipment will protect or when the buyer will field it.

The company also intends to establish an in-country maintenance and sustainment depot providing repair, technical support, training, and lifecycle services. Local support could shorten maintenance turnaround and help sustain equipment availability after delivery, but AV has not announced when the facility will open.

Related Topic: U.S. Army LOCUST X3 Laser Weapon Production Adds Leonardo DRS for Power and Cooling

The procurement reflects interest in adding laser weapons to layered counter-drone defenses. Their appeal rests partly on the imbalance between relatively inexpensive attacking drones and the costly missile interceptors sometimes used to destroy them. Repeated attacks can consume interceptor inventories even when defenders successfully protect their targets.

According to AV, LOCUST X3 offers a lower cost per engagement than conventional missile interception and can address successive threats without traditional ammunition replenishment. However, the company has not published a customer-specific cost per shot or a detailed breakdown of the $405 million award. The available information does not establish that the system is cheaper than every alternative, including guns, interceptor drones, or electronic warfare.

What is the LOCUST X3?

LOCUST X3 is a high-energy laser weapon system developed by AeroVironment to counter Group 1–3 unmanned aircraft. The manufacturer describes it as a third-generation system in the 20–35-plus-kilowatt power class, configurable for fixed installations or mobile platforms. Its modular open architecture supports integration with different sensors and allows the equipment to be adapted to customer requirements.

Rather than launching an interceptor, the system directs concentrated laser energy onto an aircraft to cause damage. Its AV_Halo Pinpoint fire-control software maintains precise energy placement on maneuvering targets, making tracking accuracy and beam stability central to the engagement process.

Within a layered defensive network, radar and other sensors support detection and tracking, while command-and-control systems coordinate the response. LOCUST X3 supplies an additional means of engaging suitable targets, complementing kinetic weapons and allowing operators to conserve other interceptors.

Its capacity for repeated engagements nevertheless depends on electrical power and thermal management. Sustained operation therefore requires reliable energy supplies, cooling, maintenance, and supporting equipment. AV has not disclosed the laser output, sensor package, installation type, or engagement range associated with the Middle East order.

Recent Middle East drone attacks underline infrastructure risks

Recent attacks in northern Iraq illustrate the exposure of both security targets and energy infrastructure to explosive drones. A suspected drone attack struck the Khor Mor gas field on November 8, 2026, prompting a production halt, according to Reuters reporting published the following day. Joint operator Dana Gas said a fire had been extinguished and no staff were injured. Regional electricity ministry sources said a drone struck an LPG storage tank, while the ministry reported that approximately 2.8 gigawatts of power generation had been suspended. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

The incident illustrates how damage at a single energy facility can disrupt services beyond the immediate impact site. Protecting processing equipment, storage tanks, and associated infrastructure can therefore support continuity of electricity and fuel supplies, as well as physical security.

Separately, Reuters reported that two explosive-laden drones attacked Iranian Kurdish opposition targets in Sulaymaniyah and east Erbil on November 4, citing security sources. The report did not identify the drone models or link them to the subsequent Khor Mor attack.

These incidents provide recent context for regional counter-drone demand, but they neither identify AV’s customer nor demonstrate that LOCUST X3 could have defeated the aircraft involved. The procurement’s next publicly verifiable milestones are confirmed deliveries, customer acceptance, and integration into the buyer’s defensive network. AV has not yet disclosed dates for those stages.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.