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Tested in New Mexico with support from the Pentagon and FAA, the LOCUST anti-drone laser hit fixed and mobile targets, operated near civil air traffic without damage to nearby aircraft, and reinforced the US bet on directed energy defenses against small drones.
AeroVironment’s LOCUST anti-drone laser recently concluded a significant test with the Pentagon and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in early March.
The evaluation was disclosed by the company this month and marked a breakthrough for the use of directed energy defense systems in North American airspace. The event was led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401, a Pentagon unit focused on combating small drones and coordinating actions among government agencies.
The central objective was to verify how the laser system could safely locate and hit drones in an area near civil air traffic.
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Officials stated that the test demonstrated the weapon’s automatic safety shutdown function and confirmed that firings occurred only against approved targets.
U.S. Army
Anti-drone laser tested in complex airspace
During the evaluation, LOCUST hit fixed and mobile aerial targets in scenarios planned to accurately reproduce real-world conditions of United States airspace. AeroVironment reported that the directed energy system passed the test without causing damage to nearby aircraft.
The operation also analyzed whether the equipment could function without affecting civil flights. For the FAA, authorization for the event occurred after a detailed analysis of the safety conditions involved in using the system.
John Garrity, AeroVironment’s Vice President of Directed Energy Systems, stated that LOCUST’s performance validated the equipment’s ability to operate safely and effectively in one of the world’s most complex airspace environments. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency will continue to work with interagency partners to maintain the safety of the National Airspace System in the face of emerging drone threats.
Bedford also stated that the FAA completed a data-driven Safety Risk Assessment. The analysis indicated that the system does not pose a greater risk to the public using aircraft.
Rapid installation demonstrated on aircraft carrier
The most recent test followed previous demonstrations with the United States Armed Forces. Last month, AeroVironment revealed that the LOCUST laser was installed on the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during a live-fire exercise conducted in October 2025.
The demonstration drew attention for the speed of deployment. Instead of requiring permanent modifications to the ship, the laser was temporarily placed on the aircraft carrier’s deck using chains.
Engineers completed delivery, installation, and testing in a single day. The company stated that the palletized model avoids long lead times and high costs, common in integrating advanced weaponry into warships.
Traditional installations can require extensive shipyard work and leave vessels out of service for long periods. The removable format also facilitates maintenance and upgrades, as the laser module can be swapped without taking the ship to a dry dock.
Flexible platform expands anti-drone laser use
During the exercise, LOCUST hit all targets defined for the demonstration. Officials stated that the results showed existing naval crews could quickly adapt to directed energy defenses, without lengthy training programs.
Before ship tests, the system had already been used on land platforms. These included fixed installations, joint light tactical vehicles, and infantry squad vehicles.
AeroVironment describes LOCUST as a platform-agnostic weapon, capable of operating in different military contexts with minor alterations. The laser also integrates the Halo_Shield anti-drone system, a modular, layered defense created to counter the advance of drone incursions.
With the increase in threats involving small drones in military and civilian environments, the FAA-backed test can help accelerate the deployment of laser air defense systems in the United States. In this scenario, the LOCUST anti-drone laser emerges as one of the bets to reinforce the response against small aerial targets.
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