LOCUST Laser Manufacturer to Expand New Mexico Operations

U.S. anti-drone laser weapons manufacturer AeroVironment, Inc., announced plans on March 3 to invest more than $30 million to expand operations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company supplies the U.S. Army with mobile 20-kilowatt LOCUST Laser Weapon Systems for countering drone threats. The systems are used on infantry squad vehicles and joint light tactical vehicles and are designed for high-precision, rapid tracking. AeroVironment received $5 million from the state of New Mexico and $1 million from the city of Albuquerque through an economic development grant to help with the expansion at three existing manufacturing sites in the Sandia Science and Technology Park. “The growth we’re driving in Albuquerque goes beyond our own business,” said Wahid Nawabi, chairman, president, and CEO of the company. “It’s about strengthening the domestic defense industrial base, creating high-quality American jobs, and partnering with New Mexico to continue to develop a durable innovation and manufacturing hub that can deliver when it matters most.”...