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AeroVironment says its Locust laser weapon to counter drones has undergone naval trials.
The system deployed in a palletized form on the CVN-77 USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier last year. It tracked, engaged and neutralized multiple drone targets during the October event, the company said April 21.
The trials were conducted in partnership with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.
The U.S. Navy and many of its counterparts have become increasingly concerned about drone and drone-swarm attacks given threats in the Middle East and potentially elsewhere.
AeroVironment has been trying to capitalize on demand for low-cost-per-kill counter-drone systems. In March, the company unveiled the Locust X3 system as a 20-35-kW higher-energy laser it said targets small to medium-sized uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
AeroVironment said the at-sea trials validated its ability to use the laser weapon across multiple platforms.
“Rolling Locust onto a ship and quickly initiating operations facilitates the expanded use of high-energy lasers across the fleet without the need for costly, time-consuming ship modifications,” the company’s vice president of directed energy systems, John Garrity, said in the statement.
A ship application is somewhat more complicated than land-based use on a stationary vehicle given the rolling movement of the vessel. That problem is somewhat lessened with an installation on an aircraft carrier.
AeroVironment has said it is looking to parlay its work on counter-UAS laser weapons to go after anticipated business to combat higher-end threats, with an eye on the Pentagon’s Golden Dome system by scaling up to a 150-kW system.
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