Attalon, AeroVironment Sign Long-Term Laser Systems Deal

PHILADELPHIA, Sept 16 — As demand for mission‑ready directed‑energy capabilities continues to rise, AeroVironment has signed a long‑term agreement (LTA) with Attalon to supply Attalon’s Valaris high‑energy laser platform across AeroVironment’s expanding high‑energy laser programs.

The long‑term pact bolsters AeroVironment’s LOCUST® and broader high‑energy laser lineup as the need for deployable directed‑energy solutions grows. Attalon provides the mission‑ready laser subsystems that enable AeroVironment to move high‑energy laser systems from development and demos into sustained operational use. Leveraging proven technologies, scalable U.S. manufacturing, and innovations such as kWIC Disconnect, Attalon is helping deliver the reliability, maintainability, and production readiness needed to field high‑energy lasers at scale.

“Through this LTA, AV is proactively scaling our LOCUST production capacity ahead of immediate demand, ensuring our defensive technologies are ready before they are needed,” said Mary Clum, AV’s president of Space, Cyber, and Directed Energy. “Attalon’s Valaris S beam‑combining laser subsystem is key to this effort, supporting robust manufacturing as we advance a sophisticated new class of defense capabilities. This technology is strategically designed to counter today’s urgent drone threats while retaining the flexibility to adapt to tomorrow’s complex missions.”

To back the long‑term agreement and AeroVironment’s expanding high‑energy laser product line, Attalon is committing $15 million to increase production capacity, grow its skilled workforce, and acquire capital equipment. The investment aims to boost manufacturing readiness and output as the demand for fielded high‑energy laser systems continues to rise.

“Every defense technology reaches a point where breakthrough performance alone isn’t enough,” said John Bergeron, CEO of Attalon. “The real challenge becomes delivering that capability at production scale while ensuring it can be sustained throughout its service life. Directed energy has arrived at that moment. That conviction drives Valaris—a platform built on proven beam‑combining laser technologies and engineered to help customers move from development to production with confidence.”

Designed to meet the operational needs of today’s warfighter, Attalon’s Valaris high‑energy laser platform merges proven laser technologies with the manufacturing scalability, maintainability, and mission‑ready performance required for production‑grade high‑energy laser systems. Featuring innovations like kWIC Disconnect, Valaris is built to enable faster sustainment, higher operational availability, and the dependable laser capability needed on the evolving battlefield.

The agreement solidifies Attalon’s position in delivering mission‑ready laser subsystems for advanced directed‑energy platforms, including AeroVironment’s LOCUST® and high‑energy laser product line. By combining proven laser technologies with scalable U.S. manufacturing and continuous innovation, Attalon is helping speed the fielding of production‑ready directed‑energy capabilities while strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base and providing the performance, resilience, and sustainment required by today’s warfighters.