US Navy conducts first-ever laser weapon test on an aircraft carrier to counter drone threats at sea.

The U.S. Navy has conducted the first-ever live-fire test of a laser weapon from an aircraft carrier, proving the capability of a new layer of close air defense against drones at sea. The demonstration aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) shows that directed-energy systems can operate in real carrier conditions, offering a potentially cheaper and sustainable way to counter persistent UAV threats.

The Locust laser completed the full kill chain (detecting, tracking, and destroying multiple drones in sequence—demonstrating a functional short-range defense capability. While limited in power and range, it highlights a scalable path toward integrating higher-energy lasers for ship protection, reflecting a broader shift toward cost-effective, high-endurance air defense in modern naval warfare.

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This test represents the first known case of a laser weapon physically mounted and fired from a U.S aircraft carrier, extending prior naval laser testing that had been limited to amphibious ships and destroyers. (Picture source: US Navy)

On April 20, 2026, the U.S Navy revealed that a live-fire test of the Locust Laser Weapon System had been conducted on October 5, 2025, aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in the Atlantic Ocean, 197 days after the event had taken place. The laser weapon was installed in a containerized Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) configuration and positioned directly on the flight deck, where it engaged multiple unmanned aerial vehicles during a single firing sequence. The engagement cycle included detection, tracking, and destruction of targets, confirming the Locust’s ability to complete the full kill chain under operational conditions, although no official decision has been taken regarding fleet-wide integration.

This event also constitutes the first confirmed instance of a directed-energy weapon being physically mounted and fired from a U.S aircraft carrier. The test, therefore, represents another step for the US Navy to evaluate whether laser weapons can operate in naval operations. From the 1970s onward, aircraft carriers were envisioned as ideal hosts for laser weapons due to their power generation, with concepts focusing on defending against anti-ship missiles using speed-of-light, low-cost, high-endurance systems, but real-world technology lagged far behind these ambitions.

Early solutions like the Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) proved that megawatt-class lasers could destroy targets, yet they were far too large (the size of a facility), toxic, and logistically impractical for shipboard use, especially on crowded and sensitive carrier decks. Later ideas, such as the Free-Electron Laser (FEL), offered cleaner and scalable alternatives for the US Navy but remained physically enormous and complex due to their reliance on accelerator systems. At the same time, the U.S. operational doctrine reduced the laser's attractiveness by assigning close-in defense roles to escort ships rather than carriers themselves, further delaying integration.

Only after 2000 did solid-state laser technology become compact, efficient, and modular enough to fit naval constraints, allowing the deployment of systems like the Locust aboard USS George H. W. Bush. The aircraft carrier used for the test is a Nimitz-class carrier displacing about 102,000 tons, powered by two nuclear reactors with an embarked air wing of about 90 aircraft and a crew exceeding 3,500 personnel. The Locust unit was installed as a containerized module secured to the flight deck without structural modification, indicating a temporary deployment model rather than permanent integration. The laser weapon was physically lashed in place and operated as a standalone unit, without connection to the ship’s combat system or fire control network.

However, the test involved real aerial targets, confirming a live-fire scenario rather than just a controlled simulation. Furthermore, personnel from the U.S Navy, the U.S Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, and AeroVironment participated in the activity. The six-month delay before the release reflects the fact that post-test technical validation takes time, such as sensor performance, beam stability, tracking accuracy, dwell time effectiveness, and the impact of factors like humidity or sea-state interference. The Locust itself, developed by AeroVironment, is built around a solid-state laser emitter with a nominal output between 20 and 26 kW, placing it below the threshold required for engaging high-speed or hardened aerial threats.

The laser weapon is packaged as a palletized module integrating the laser source, beam director, power supply, and sensor suite within a transportable container. Target acquisition is performed using electro-optical and infrared cameras, with optional integration of compact radar and passive radio frequency detection systems to provide cueing data. The fire control loop is automated, linking detection, tracking, and engagement without continuous operator input once a target is designated. The Locust can interface with external sensors through network connections, although this capability was not used during the test. The engagement mechanism relies on continuous-wave laser output applied to a target (such as small and medium drones) over a defined dwell period, producing thermal effects to damage structural integrity or disable onboard components.

During the October 5 event, multiple UAVs were neutralized sequentially, demonstrating the ability to process successive targets within a single engagement window. As a laser weapon is limited to one target at a time due to beam steering and energy concentration requirements, this constrains the engagement rate against multiple simultaneous threats. Dwell time varies based on target material, size, and distance, with increased duration required for more resilient structures. Systems in the 20 kW class typically operate at ranges below 5 km, with effectiveness reduced by atmospheric conditions such as humidity, salt particles, and airborne aerosols common in maritime environments, restricting them to short-range point defense. 

The power level demonstrated during the test places the Locust within the lower tier of directed-energy systems currently under development, below the 50 to 100 kW range associated with potential counter-cruise missile applications. Scaling the system beyond 26 kW introduces constraints related to thermal management within the containerized design and limitations in onboard power conditioning. There is no indication that the carrier’s nuclear power plant was used to supply energy to the system, suggesting a reliance on an independent power unit integrated into the container, which limits firing duration and total energy output. Heat dissipation remains a critical factor, as excess thermal buildup affects beam quality and system reliability.

These constraints indicate that the carrier-based laser system remains at a prototype or advanced demonstrator stage rather than an operationally fielded capability. Further development would likely require increased power density and improved cooling solutions. The aircraft carrier environment imposes specific constraints on a laser weapon, including limited deck space, continuous flight operations, and safety requirements associated with aircraft launch and recovery cycles. The flight deck supports high-tempo operations involving catapult launches and arrested recoveries, which require clear operational zones and strict coordination. The test indicates that a containerized laser system can be installed and operated without interrupting these activities, at least for limited durations.

However, long-term integration would require permanent mounting points, connection to shipboard power distribution systems, and incorporation into cooling infrastructure capable of supporting sustained operation. These elements were not part of the test configuration, as the current deployment model of the Locust emphasizes modularity and temporary installation. This approach allows rapid deployment but does not address the requirements for continuous operational use. The Locust development has been driven primarily by U.S Army programs, including the Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) and the Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) initiatives, which have produced multiple configurations for ground-based deployment.

By December 2025, the U.S Army had received palletized systems as well as variants mounted on Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and Infantry Squad Vehicles, with at least some systems deployed in overseas environments. The U.S Marine Corps has pursued similar configurations, reflecting demand for mobile counter-UAS systems across services. In February 2026, a Locust system was implicated in an airspace restriction event near El Paso, indicating domestic operational use. These deployments confirm the Locust’s flexibility across land-based applications, and the test aboard the USS George H. W. Bush represents the first extension of this capability into a maritime environment, thanks to the system’s containerized architecture. 

The U.S. Navy's requirement for laser systems such as the Locust is driven by the increasing use of low-cost drones in conflict zones, particularly in regions such as the Red Sea since late 2023. Engagement of these threats using conventional interceptors imposes a significant cost burden, with individual missile intercepts ranging from $100,000 to $1M, depending on the system employed. In contrast, laser systems rely on electrical power, resulting in a cost per engagement limited to energy consumption and system wear, approximately $3 to $5 per shot.

This creates a significantly more favorable cost exchange when countering inexpensive drones. Laser systems also provide a high magazine depth, constrained only by power generation and thermal limits rather than stored munitions. However, the requirement for sustained dwell time and single-target engagement reduces their effectiveness against dense swarms for now within existing air defense architectures. The broader development trajectory for U.S Navy directed-energy systems includes earlier deployments such as the AN/SEQ-3 LaWS at about 30 kW in 2014 and ongoing programs such as HELIOS at about 60 kW for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

Additional efforts include ODIN for optical disruption and the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator, tested aboard USS Portland in 2020. Current development objectives aim to exceed 100 kW to enable engagement of more complex threats, including cruise missiles. Persistent technical challenges include maintaining beam quality under varying atmospheric conditions, managing thermal loads, and ensuring system reliability in maritime environments exposed to vibration and saltwater. The Locust test aboard a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, therefore, provides key data specific to integration on high-value naval assets.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.