BlueHalo reports delivery of its LOCUST system to be integrated into the US Army’s Palletised High Energy Laser (P-HEL) system. The Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), in support of the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), has established the P-HEL program to address the growing threat of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) by developing this counter-sUAS (C-sUAS) prototype. The JCO intends to evaluate the P-HEL in an operationally relevant environment this spring at Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG), to be followed by possible deployment of the system overseas for further evaluation and operational use. The delivered LOCUST system performed well as part of the integrated P-HEL C-UAS system during a recent risk reduction field event, tracking, engaging, and defeating several UAS targets.
According to BlueHalo, the LOCUST system was selected to demonstrated performance of the value of lasers during the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) Combat Shoot-Off (CSO) in July 2021. BlueHalo’s LOCUST system demonstrates the company’s commitment to soldier-centered design and rapid transition to mature prototype. The system combines precision optical and laser hardware with advanced software, algorithms, and processing to enable and enhance the directed energy “kill chain”, which includes tracking, identifying, and engaging a wide variety of targets with its hard-kill HEL.
LOCUST represents one product in BlueHalo’s suite of C-sUAS mission solutions where the Company remains heavily committed having invested significantly in standing up manufacturing infrastructure and capabilities. BlueHalo is actively building multiple LOCUST products and is positioning to meet future demands in quantity.
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