Austin Moeller's questions to AeroVironment (AVAV) leadership • Q1 2026
Question
Austin Moeller asked for clarification on the $68 million in the budget for launch effects (LMAMs), specifically if it's solely for U.S. Army stockpiling and excludes Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Ukraine. He also inquired about the energy requirements for the LOCAST system on mobile ground vehicles (AMPLL or DE M-SHORAD) compared to fixed emplacements or Navy ships.
Answer
Chairman, President, and CEO Wahid Nawabi confirmed that the $68 million for launch effects in the budget is exclusively for domestic U.S. Department of Defense needs, not for FMS customers. Regarding LOCAST, Mr. Nawabi explained that AeroVironment's secret sauce is its precise targeting technology, which allows effective drone defeat with lower power (around 15-20 kilowatts) compared to bulkier, more expensive M-SHORAD systems. He noted that LOCAST has been successfully installed and delivered on JLTVs for the U.S. Army, performing well in tests, and sees it as a multi-billion dollar market for counter-UAS and missile defense.