Defense contractapprovedSeptember 02, 2026
AeroVironment
Army awards first high-energy laser production agreement
The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment an other-transaction agreement to move the Enduring-High Energy Laser counter-drone system from prototype development into production.
The Army calls E-HEL its first production contract for a high-energy laser weapon system. The electrically powered system is designed as a scalable counter-UAS effector with a regenerating magazine and a modular open-systems architecture spanning 11 major interfaces. The Army says the design can be deployed from fixed bases, semi-fixed tactical sites, and mobile combat vehicles.
Headline metrics
| Army first | 1st production contract | for a high-energy laser weapon system |
| Major interfaces | 11 | |
| Deployment modes | 3 | fixed, semi-fixed, and mobile |
Highlights
- Prototype to productionThe agreement formally moves E-HEL into production and toward operational fielding.
- Counter-drone roleThe laser is designed to defeat unmanned aircraft threats at a lower cost per shot than kinetic interceptors.
- Upgradeable designIts modular open architecture is intended to accept new capabilities over time.