AeroVironment announced a major breakthrough in counter-drone defense after successfully testing its LOCUST high-energy laser system at White Sands Missile Range in coordination with the US Department of War and the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA writes:

“The FAA’s top priority is protecting the safety of the American flying public, and we value the collaboration with the Department of War in that effort,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in the release. “Following a thorough, data-informed Safety Risk Assessment, we determined that these systems do not present an increased risk to the flying public. We will continue working with our interagency partners to ensure the National Airspace System remains safe while addressing emerging drone threats.”

The test demonstrated that the laser-based counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) could safely detect and destroy drone threats in US airspace without impacting civilian aircraft. The system successfully engaged both stationary and airborne targets while using automated safety shutoff features and strict target identification protocols.

LOCUST is also a key part of AeroVironment’s new Halo Shield defense architecture, a layered system designed to integrate sensors, tracking, battle management, and counter-drone weapons to protect critical infrastructure, borders, and civilian airspace from growing drone threats.

Officials said the milestone moves directed-energy weapons closer to real-world deployment for homeland defense and military operations, bringing scalable “speed of light” air defense capabilities closer to operational use.