AV delivers first two multi-purpose high-energy laser weapons to U.S. Army…

04 Sep 2025

…and Flir launches Boson+ IQ thermal imaging system at UK arms expo DSEI 2025.

Defense technologies developer AeroVironment, Inc. has delivered the first of two mobile counter-unmanned aircraft prototype laser weapon systems to the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. The deal is part of the first increment of the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) prototyping effort.

The AMP-HEL prototype systems feature AV’s 20kW-class LOCUST™ LWS integrated on the General Motors Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle platform–a significant advancement in mobile, frontline C-UAS capabilities.

“This milestone marks a major step forward in the Army’s pursuit of fieldable directed energy capabilities,” said Mary Clum, Senior Vice President for AV’s Space & Directed Energy Group. “Through the AMP-HEL program, AV is delivering our extensively validated LOCUST laser system–a technically sophisticated solution that has demonstrated reliability and operational readiness for the C-UAS fight.”

Following integration at AV’s Directed Energy manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the AMP-HEL prototypes underwent rigorous government acceptance testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona to validate its performance. Subsequently, Army units performed new equipment training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to prepare for potential employment of DE capabilities.

The AMP-HEL prototyping effort is part of the Army’s broader modernization initiative to develop and field DE solutions to defeat a range of threats, including drones and other airborne systems. The integration of laser systems on the lightweight, mobile ISV platform reflects a commitment to scalable, adaptable, and expeditionary force protection solutions. Next month, AV is set to deliver the second increment of AMP-HEL – two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with a 20kW class LOCUST LWS, radar, and command-and-control systems.

Flir launches Boson+ IQ thermal imaging system at DSEI

Thermal imaging systems developer Teledyne Flir OEM (Flir), has announced the launch of the Boson®+ IQ Development Kit. The solution combines reference hardware with Prism™ software, enabling integrators to develop edge AI capabilities using thermal sensing across defense, security, and industrial platforms.

At the heart of the kit is the Flir OEM AVP, powered by the Qualcomm® Dragonwing™ QCS8550 system-on-chip, which delivers 50 trillion operations per second with a typical power draw of just 2.5 W. Flir states, “Its multicore architecture supports Prism AI object detection models and Prism ISP features, including denoising and super resolution to provide exceptional image clarity in challenging environments.”

“The Boson+ IQ Dev Kit represents a major leap forward for integrators building smarter, more efficient thermal systems at the edge with AI particularly for autonomy applications such as aerial drones, loitering munitions, and ground-based robotics,” said Jared Faraudo, VP product management and programs, at Flir.

The kit includes interface and carrier boards with three MIPI interfaces, allowing developers to integrate visible or other sensor types into their systems. It also comes with the Boson+ and Prism SDKs, hardware interface control documentation (ICD), and expert engineering support, providing a seamless development experience from prototype to deployment.

The Boson+ IQ Development Kit offers compatibility for upcoming additions, including Prism SKR and Prism Supervisor. Prism SKR facilitates autonomous target detection and terminal guidance, while Prism Supervisor offers autonomous operation to designated way points via GPS or visual-based navigation location technology, says Flir. The Boson+ IQ can be viewed at the Flir stand (#S3-110) during the arms expo DSEI 2025 at ExCeL, London, UK, between September 9–12.