U.S. Army to Award CAML Autonomous Launcher Contracts in August; Negotiating E-HEL Laser Contract with AeroVironment
Tags AI · Infrastructure · Enterprise
The Army plans to award Other Transaction Agreements for the Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) program by late August 2026, per Lt. Gen. Frank Lozano. CAML replaces the oversized Typhon mid-range launcher with medium and heavy variants. Multiple vendors (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, others) competed; 3-4 awards expected to avoid vendor lock. Separately, the Army is negotiating a contract with AeroVironment for the Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program — 20 systems to counter Group 1-3 drones on Stryker, JLTV, and ISV platforms. White Sands demonstrations showed strong results.
Technical significance
CAML's shift to OTA with multiple vendors signals acquisition reform — faster awards, IP rights retention, and competition sustainment. Replacing Typhon (a strategic fires system) with autonomous mobile launchers reflects a doctrinal shift toward distributed, survivable fires. E-HEL's vehicle-agnostic design (Stryker/JLTV/ISV) and Group 1-3 drone focus addresses the immediate counter-UAS gap. AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 lineage suggests a mature directed-energy solution. Both programs accelerate autonomous kinetic and non-kinetic effector deployment.