The U.S. Army is advancing plans to embed high-energy laser systems onto a broad range of vehicles, aiming to make directed energy capabilities a standard feature rather than a niche experiment. At the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting, senior acquisition officials outlined a strategy to attach laser turrets to any platform in the motor pool, from light tactical vehicles to heavier combat trucks. Brig. Gen. Guy Yelverton, who leads the Army’s Directed Energy Project Office, emphasized that the effort is designed to create a flexible, vehicle-agnostic architecture that can be adapted across different units and operational environments.

The initiative builds on existing field deployments of AeroVironment’s LOCUST laser system, which has already been used in limited numbers along the U.S.-Mexico border. In September, the Army awarded its first production contract for the upgraded LOCUST X3 variant, a 30-kilowatt-class system capable of engaging small unmanned aerial systems. Earlier versions of LOCUST have been mounted on Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, Infantry Squad Vehicles, and palletized configurations, allowing for rapid deployment in forward areas. The service is also exploring containerized and shipboard adaptations of the technology, reflecting a broader push to integrate lasers into naval and ground-based defense architectures.

Yelverton described the current approach as a “modular” solution that can be detached from one vehicle and reinstalled on another with minimal reconfiguration. He argued that this flexibility would allow the Army to distribute laser firepower more widely, reduce dependency on dedicated platforms, and accelerate the fielding of new capabilities. “We’re focused on any vehicle in the motorpool,” he said during a panel discussion. “If we can make the system easy to operate and maintain, we can place it in the hands of soldiers across the force, not just within specialized air defense units.”

Despite progress, technical challenges remain. Laser effectiveness diminishes with distance, and performance can be affected by weather, dust, and atmospheric conditions. Power and cooling requirements also limit sustained engagement, particularly on smaller vehicles. To address these constraints, the Army is investing in adaptive optics, improved tracking algorithms, and artificial intelligence-assisted targeting to enhance precision and reduce operator workload. Col. Charles Kean, a deputy commander at the 7th Infantry Division, noted that smaller, more mobile systems could be tested in diverse environments — from the humid conditions of the Pacific to the arid border zones — to refine their reliability under real-world stress.

The Army’s broader laser strategy includes parallel efforts to develop higher-power systems. The Joint Laser Weapon System program aims to field containerized 150-kilowatt units by the early 2030s, with long-term goals of reaching 300- and 500-kilowatt configurations. Industry partners such as nLIGHT are working on scaling up power output, with executives suggesting megawatt-class lasers could become viable in the coming decade. While these systems are still in development, the Army views even modest-capability lasers like LOCUST X3 as a critical layer in a layered defense against drone and missile threats.

Mobility and logistics are central to the vision. Laser turrets mounted on light vehicles can be slung under helicopters, transported by air, or repositioned quickly on the battlefield. Palletized and containerized versions offer additional deployment options for fixed-site defense. In July 2025, soldiers from Joint Task Force-Southern Border conducted sling-loading exercises to position LOCUST-equipped vehicles under CH-47 Chinook helicopters, demonstrating the system’s transportability.

The service remains cautious about overpromising. While lasers offer the potential for low-cost, high-volume interception — eliminating the need for traditional missile magazines — they are not a panacea. Each shot requires significant energy, and sustained firing depends on available power reserves and cooling capacity. Nevertheless, officials argue that integrating lasers into existing vehicle platforms represents a pragmatic step toward making directed energy weapons a routine part of the Army’s defensive toolkit.