AeroVironment Announces $50M International LOCUST Laser Order, Shares Rise 5%
AeroVironment's stock rose 5% to $147.90 on Thursday after the company announced its first international commercial order for the LOCUST directed-energy counter-UAS laser weapon system valued at $50 million. The deal follows a recent U.S. Army contract worth $464.8 million, marking the first production award in U.S. history for high-energy laser weapons. The Autonomous Systems segment drove AeroVironment's fiscal Q1 2027 results with revenue of $346 million and bookings reaching $700 million, resulting in a strong book-to-bill ratio of 1.4x. The company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.59, surpassing the consensus estimate by more than double. Despite today's gains, AeroVironment remains down nearly 39% year to date and did not make a recent list of top stocks for investment compiled by analysts at 24/7 Wall St.
Topics: defense drone technology international orders laser weapons