Leonardo DRS has been selected to support the US Army's high-energy laser program alongside prime contractor AeroVironment, Israel Defense reported, citing DefenseScoop. Last September AeroVironment won a contract worth nearly $500 million for the E-HEL program, aimed at moving the system from prototype to full-rate production. The company described it then as the first directed-energy weapon production contract in US history and expects to deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 laser systems.
The Army plans to mount the systems on vehicles such as the JLTV and ISV and in palletized configurations. Operating high-power lasers reliably in the field is a technical challenge, and Leonardo DRS will bring its experience in vehicle integration, power and thermal management. The companies did not disclose the value of the subcontract.
Separately, the Pentagon last month chose AeroVironment's palletized laser as one of the systems to be evaluated in a pilot by Joint Interagency Task Force 401, alongside Epirus's Leonidas high-power microwave, Kord's Firefly laser and Boeing's Compact Laser Weapon System.