The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $464.8 million contract for its Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program, part of the company’s LOCUST line. AeroVironment will provide continued training and system support for defenses against small- to medium-sized drones.
The agreement covers the 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3, a platform-agnostic system to be integrated with several platforms, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Integration with the Infantry Squad Vehicle is described as a near-term possibility.
In its first quarter of FY27, AeroVironment reported $480.5 million in revenue, up 6% year over year, and about $700 million in bookings; its book-to-bill ratio was 1.4x. The article says technical or manufacturing hurdles could affect delivery schedules, while budget reallocations, policy shifts or cancellations could affect multi-year government contracts.
