MacroAug 7, 2026, 6:34 PM

U.S. Army Awards $400M Anti-Drone Laser Contract to AeroVironment

The U.S. Army will invest $400 million in AeroVironment’s advanced anti-drone laser technology, underscoring rising demand for cost-effective counter-UAV systems.

AVAV

The U.S. Army has finalized a $400 million contract with AeroVironment for anti-drone laser systems. The deal highlights the military’s push to field directed-energy weapons as threats from unmanned aerial systems grow on modern battlefields.

The contract aims to deliver a cost-effective, layered defense against increasingly sophisticated drones. Laser-based interceptors offer a low-cost-per-engagement alternative to traditional kinetic missiles, aligning with broader Pentagon modernization goals.

AeroVironment, known for its unmanned aircraft and loitering munitions, will supply the vehicle-mounted laser platforms. Delivery timelines and unit quantities were not disclosed in the initial announcement.

Source: First Squawk

15hMacroUS Manufacturing PMI Hits 56.0 in October, Highest Since May 2022S&P Global's US manufacturing PMI rose to 56.0 in October, beating expectations, while services and composite measures slipped slightly but remained near multi-year highs.
19hMacroNew US and Chinese AI billionaires add $87 billion in nine monthsCombined wealth of first-time AI billionaires from the US and China rose by $87 billion in the first nine months of 2026, reaching $221 billion, according to The Kobeissi Letter.
1dMacroAI token spending growth slows to 0.2% in September, lowest since November 2025Monthly AI token spending rose just 0.2% in September, the weakest pace since November 2025, as lower model prices and efficiency gains cut the average cost per million tokens.
2dMacroBorn2trade CEO: “Everything is about gold now. Gold traders dictate industry standards and features”Konstantin Rashap, CEO of Born2trade, says 70-90% of retail clients now trade gold, forcing brokers to compete on overnight swap costs, leverage and loyalty incentives rather than spreads alone.
2dMacroJapan Economy Minister Kiuchi Urges BOJ to Follow Joint StatementJapan’s economy minister Kiuchi said he hopes the Bank of Japan will guide policy appropriately based on its joint statement with the government, which calls for stable and sustainable price stability.

Related