$13.8 million contract covers fewer than 100 systems
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has selected Aeon Industrial to produce a limited run of a developmental shoulder-fired version of its Zeus missile system.
Under a $13.8 million low-rate initial production contract, Aeon is expected to deliver fewer than 100 systems to SOCOM over the next year. The weapon weighs about 20 pounds and is roughly 30 inches long. It is designed primarily for use in confined and urban environments.
Built around operators’ needs
Aeon CEO Naweed Tahmas said the company developed the system based on discussions with warfighters, focusing on precision, reduced weight, modularity and availability. Aeon initially funded the development itself, arguing that operators should not have to rely on unguided weapons designed more than three decades ago.
This is the first U.S. purchase of the shoulder-fired Zeus configuration, which includes both the missile and its launch tube. The U.S. military has long used unguided systems such as the M72 LAW, while also fielding more expensive guided weapons such as the Javelin. Aeon is positioning Zeus as a potentially lower-cost alternative to existing guided systems.
Modular design allows for different missions
According to the company, operators can swap the weapon’s warheads and seekers in the field without tools, tailoring it to targets such as armored vehicles, personnel, drones and other threats.
Aeon says the same system can be launched from the shoulder, a vehicle, a surface vessel or a drone without reconfiguration. A removable control collar is designed to allow quick mounting and removal.
SOCOM has not said whether other companies have similar contracts, how many systems it has ordered, or how it plans to test the weapon. The command is known for acquisition authorities that allow it to buy and evaluate equipment faster than other parts of the U.S. military.
Testing and operator evaluations still ahead
Tahmas said the Army and other Department of Defense partners have taken part in Zeus development and live-fire testing. Aeon has also received contracts to integrate the weapon onto unmanned surface vessels and to support counter-drone missions.
The SOCOM contract marks a significant step toward producing and delivering the shoulder-fired version. Testing and operator evaluations in operationally representative environments are expected to help validate the system, while feedback from special operators could inform improvements to its interface, handling and capabilities.
