'Its not unlike what theyre using at their own house for video games': US
Army budgets $465 million for Group 3 Killer anti-drone laser which uses Xbox controller

Date:
Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:05:00 +0000

Description:
The US Army is buying an arsenal of 30-kilowatt, vehicle-mountable anti-drone lasers that are controlled using an Xbox controller.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The LOCUST X3 laser is
developed by AeroVironment, Inc. It is designed as a group 3 killer meaning it is intended to tackle particularly dangerous drones The Xbox controller makes the LOCUST X3 laser simpler to target A new US Army contract worth around $465 million has been awarded to AeroVironment, Inc. for its LOCUST X3 anti-drone weapon, a 30-kilowatt laser that can be mounted on military vehicles.

Designed to take down mid-sized attack drones, the LOCUST X3 can specifically handle what the Department of Defense refers to as Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicles weighing 1,350 pounds and capable of lifting 125 pound payloads over a distance of 8 miles. Interestingly, AeroVironment, Inc. has designed the LOCUST X3 to be relatively easy to control. Operators (which may be soldiers, sailors, airmen, or even Space Force guardians) can target the anti-drone laser using an Xbox controller. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: The apex predator Incredibly, this is the first high energy laser
weapon to be awarded a production contract in US history, following several years in development, which included military testing.

Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at AV said:
The transition of directed energy from experimentation to an enduring,
fielded capability reflects years of collaboration, innovation, and operational success alongside the U.S. Army. You may like Ukraine military to get DragonFire-style drone-killing lasers within months US startup founded by former teenage drone racers just won one of the Pentagon's biggest
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Aaron Westman, senior director for business development at AeroVironment, Inc., outlined how the LOCUST X3s role is viewed by the company. It can
really kill a lot of threats. Its job is to really, lets say, thin the herd
to be able to kill high volumes of threats.

John Garrity, vice president of directed energy systems at AeroVironment,
Inc, expanded on the use of an Xbox controller for targeting the anti-drone system. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

To a young soldier, sailor, airman, guardian thats using these systems, its not unlike what theyre using at their own house for video games," he noted. Group 3 killer The purpose of the LOCUST X3 is to dispatch attacking drones relatively efficiently. But what does Group 3 actually mean?

Garrity told reporters that LOCUST X3 is intended to be the Group 3 killer. When we talk about Group 3, thats just one of the more prevalent threats that you see in warfare today, seen in conflicts in Iran and in Ukraine with
Shahed drones. The LOCUST X3 is intended to be a one part of the US Armys response to done attacks, with other weapons contributing to the
multi-layered defense against Group 1-3 UAV threats.

The one-way Shahed-136 drones have been used against US troops in the Middle East. The LOCUST X3 is positioned as a solution to this, and not just due to its portability. It also has longer range than many similar countermeasures.

US interceptor missiles are believed to be largely depleted thanks to the conflict with Iran. Anti-drone weapons like the LOCUST X3 are viewed as a forward-thinking alternative. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/its-not-unlike-what-theyre-using-at-their-own-ho use-for-video-games-us-army-budgets-usd465-million-for-group-3-killer-anti-dro ne-laser-which-uses-xbox-controller


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