# AeroVironment Wins $500 Million Pentagon Contract for Counter-Drone Defense

*2026-07-05 14:02 UTC · Business · 1 min read*

> The Pentagon awarded AeroVironment a $500 million, multi-year contract to supply counter-drone defense systems to the U.S. Army.

The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $500 million contract to supply commercial counter-drone technology, the Pentagon confirmed. The deal, managed by Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, runs through mid-2029 and covers systems to detect, track, and defeat hostile drones ranging from small commercial quadcopters to larger unmanned aircraft.

AeroVironment's arsenal includes its Switchblade loitering munitions and the LOCUST directed-energy laser system. CEO Wahid Nawabi said LOCUST's cost-per-shot can be as low as $3, compared to the millions it costs to fire a traditional interceptor at a single drone.

The award follows a strong quarter for AeroVironment, whose stock jumped nearly 19% after record earnings. The Pentagon's counter-drone task force, JIATF 401, has increasingly funded such technology as cheap commercial drones become a growing battlefield threat.

## Sources

- [defensescoop.com](https://defensescoop.com/2026/07/02/pentagon-awards-500m-contract-aerovironment-counter-drone-technology/)
- [armyrecognition.com](https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2026/u-s-army-awards-aerovironment-500m-contract-for-layered-counter-drone-defense-systems)

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TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/1951-aerovironment-wins-500-million-pentagon-contract-for-counter-drone-defense
Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/2024-aerovironment-ziskal-od-pentagonu-zakazku-za-500-milionu-dolaru-na-obranu-proti