AeroVironment tests LOCUST laser on U.S. carrier, downing drones at sea
AeroVironment said its LOCUST laser weapon destroyed multiple target drones during a live-fire test aboard the USS George H.W. Bush.
The demonstration took place in October 2025 on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier as the ship maneuvered at sea. The company said its palletized high-energy laser system tracked, engaged and neutralized several drones under real operating conditions on a moving naval platform. The result is significant because the system was integrated onto the carrier and brought into operation without major ship modifications, a key hurdle for directed-energy weapons at sea. That approach could give the U.S. Navy a faster and cheaper path to expanding laser defenses across the fleet.
The test was conducted with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, which manages the Army’s Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser effort. AeroVironment described the event as a milestone for fielding directed-energy systems across domains and platforms. LOCUST had already been demonstrated on fixed sites and ground vehicles, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and Infantry Squad Vehicle. The carrier trial added a naval validation to that record and underscored the system’s roll-on, roll-off design, which allows it to be installed and removed quickly as mission needs change.
LOCUST can run on a rechargeable battery or draw power directly from a ship. When connected to ship power, the system can deliver effectively unlimited shots without the magazine constraints of missile-based defenses. AeroVironment also said the weapon can link with different command-and-control networks, automate target tracking and switch rapidly between targets. In March, the company unveiled an upgraded version of LOCUST with artificial intelligence features and a scalable laser output ranging from 20 kilowatts to more than 35 kilowatts, signaling a push to improve performance against increasingly dense drone threats.
For the Navy, the test matters not only because the laser hit drones, but because it showed a high-energy weapon can be deployed on a major warship with less disruption than traditional fixed integration programs. If that model holds in future trials, LOCUST could become a practical option for close-in defense against drones and other low-cost aerial threats, where reaction time and cost per shot are critical. The broader implication is clear: shipboard lasers are moving beyond experimentation and closer to operational fleet use.