US unveils low-cost laser weapon to take down Shahed-style drones

The U.S. defense industry is addressing the challenge posed by large numbers of inexpensive kamikaze drones deployed by Iran and Russia with a new low-cost laser weapon system. AeroVironment (AV) introduced the LOCUST X3, the third-generation energy weapon capable of destroying drones at the speed of light for under $5 per engagement. The X3 improves on earlier versions by delivering 20 to over 35 kilowatts of laser power with a wider beam aperture, enabling it to target a broad range of unmanned aerial systems, including small quadcopters, fixed-wing drones up to 1,320 pounds, and unmanned surface vessels. The system was developed based on direct soldier feedback and is designed specifically to counter high-volume, low-cost threats like Iran’s Shahed-136 and Russia’s Geran-2 drones, which are difficult to economically counter with traditional interceptor missiles costing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. The LOCUST X3 employs AV’s proprietary AV_Halo