The U.S. Army has received its first two mobile Laser Weapon Systems (LWS) designed for counter-drone missions under the AMP-HEL prototyping effort. Built around AeroVironment’s LOCUST 20kW-class laser and mounted on GM Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), the system provides lightweight, mobile force protection. It can disable Class I and II drones with precision and speed, giving frontline troops organic counter-UAS capability without relying on fixed or heavy assets. The ISV’s mobility makes it deployable by air and suitable for austere terrain. The delivery reflects the Army’s push for scalable, directed-energy defenses to protect small units from proliferating drone threats in contested environments.
