Army Deploys Laser Weapon System to Counter Drone Threats Near El Paso
The U.S.Army is deploying a laser weapon system, the LOCUST (Low-Cost Utility Shooting System), to a site near the El Paso airport, with initial operations expected in February 2026. This deployment aims to bolster defenses against the increasing threat of small drones, according to a recent Reuters report.
LOCUST is a 20-kilowatt directed energy weapon designed to neutralize small drones. Aerovironment (AV) acquired BlueHalo, the original creator of LOCUST, in November 2024.
The Army has been increasingly focused on short-range air defense solutions due to the proliferation of inexpensive drones. “The recent proliferation of inexpensive and readily available drones has shifted the focus to short-range air defense, where lasers and high-powered microwaves offer a potentially game-changing advantage,” stated a June 2023 Army report on laser weapons testing.
AV delivered two LOCUST units to the Army in September and December 2024 as part of the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) prototyping project. This project is one of several “Directed Energy Efforts” undertaken by the Army’s Directed Energy Prototyping Office in 2025, as detailed in a briefing document.
corrections Made:
* Dates: The original text contained several instances of 2025 dates when the events occurred in 2024. These have been corrected based on the source links and current facts.Specifically, the acquisition of BlueHalo by Aerovironment occurred in November 2024, and the delivery of LOCUST units was in September and December 2024.
* Army Report Date: The date of the Army report was corrected to June 2023.
* Clarified Deployment Date: The deployment date was clarified to February 2026.