AeroVironment is exploding higher following a fiscal first-quarter earnings report released after the market close on September 9 that surpassed analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings. The stock is benefiting from a strong backlog of $1.5 billion and the announcement of the company's first international commercial order for its LOCUST laser weapon system. This positive momentum is further bolstered by a series of analyst upgrades and bullish sentiment, which have helped the stock recover from its recent downtrend as investors react to the company's solid growth in its Autonomous Systems segment.