AV unveils Locust X3 modular directed energy weapon...

25 Mar 2026

…and Kopin wins more U.S. Government funding for military microLED displays.

AeroVironment (AV), a developer of defense technology, has launched LOCUST® X3 – the third generation of AV’s high-energy laser weapon system, specified to deliver precise engagement for the rapid defeat of drones and unmanned aerial threats.

The LOCUST X3 offers what AV describes as “cost-effective engagements below $5 per shot and sustained defense without the reload limitations of traditional defense systems.”

The LOCUST X3 features a scalable 20–35+ kilowatt laser, a modular beam director, and advanced AI-enabled detection, tracking, and engagement automation powered by AV_Halo™ PINPOINT, part of the company's hardware-agnostic software platform for layered counter-Unmanned Aircraft System defense.

“In today’s battlespace, adversaries are deploying mass drone attacks and saturation tactics that threaten mission success and warfighter survivability,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and CEO at AV. “With LOCUST X3, we deliver an affordable, scalable solution to outpace and neutralize large-scale aerial threats.”

Aligned with the U.S. Department of War’s mandated Modular Open Systems Approach, LOCUST X3 enables rapid upgrades and integration with fixed and mobile defense platforms. The LOCUST platform has been successfully fielded through the U.S. Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser and Palletized High Energy Laser programs, and validated on platforms like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and the Infantry Squad Vehicle.

Mary Clum, President of AV’s Space, Cyber & Directed Energy segment, commented, “LOCUST X3 transforms how defenders respond to the challenge of massed drone attacks. Its modular design and advanced AI allow for resilient, adaptive protection of critical assets—on any platform, at the tactical edge or at fixed sites. Operators can now counter high-volume threats with unmatched speed, precision, and affordability.”

Kopin wins further U.S. SBIR funding for military microLEDs

Kopin, a developer of optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense and other applications, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Government to advance new full color, smaller format microLED display technology.

This award builds on the existing $15.4 million IBAS contract awarded to Kopin in September 2025, further accelerating the company’s microLED design and manufacturing capabilities. The new SBIR supports the creation of a second full color microLED display purpose-designed for several soldier-borne applications, marking this the second microLED-focused award in the past six months for Army programs.

The effort advances early stage development of the critical microLED architecture engineered to deliver superior brightness and visual performance along with lower power-consumption for near eye defense applications. Work under this award is focused on delivering color displays to give soldiers clear information and situational awareness.

The technology under development within the SBIR is expected to play a key role in enabling enhanced capability for future weapon sight programs, providing warfighters with brighter, more rugged, and more power efficient visual solutions. Kopin added that “the need for these capabilities spans multiple near eye systems, including helmet-mounted visual information systems, advanced weapon sights, and other precision targeting devices.”

Iwan Dodd, SVP Business Development at Kopin, said, “As the Army advances toward more sophisticated weapon sights and visual augmentation platforms, U.S.-engineered microLED displays will play a central role in delivering the brightness, ruggedness, and power efficiency our warfighters need to be advantaged in the field.”