Tag: Aerovironment

AeroVironment announced today the receipt of a contract for its new Switchblade 600 loitering missile. The order was received from the Special Operations Command. The allocates $26 million for the delivery of weapons and their integration of the new weapon on specialized maritime platforms operated by US Special Operations Forces. Completion is expected by the end of 2022.

Aerovironment announced today expanding its loitering weapon family, as it introduced the Switchblade 600 – the largest weapon in the family announced to date. The new weapon employs the tube-launched, collapsible wing, electric propulsion architecture as Switchblade 300, and its Blackwing variant. With longer range, extended mission endurance, and multi-purpose warhead Switchblade 600 expand the warfighter’s capability engaging larger, hardened targets at greater distances.

AeroVironment is working with General Dynamics Land Systems to tighten the integration of its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with GDLS’ combat vehicles. This integration will enable mounted forces to employ small drones and loitering weapons on demand and on the move.

AeroVironment, Inc. is unveiled today the Puma 3 AE, a new version of its proven RQ-20B Puma AE small tactical UAV that includes upgrades that prepare the air-vehicle for operation in rugged terrain and challenging electronic combat environment. The updated design enables the SUAS to carry advanced, third-party payloads and software applications. The entire system has also been reduced in size, now enabling to carry a flyable system in a single case.

By the next year, the U.S. Army plans to equip the individual warfighter with an autonomous Soldier Based Sensors (SBS) based on a miniature drone. The Army is evaluating different off the shelf solutions for this applications.

The Australian defense department selected AeroVironment's Wasp AE small unmanned aircraft system for use by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Australian order will deliver mini-drones within a period of three-year period, and support the systems for ten years. The contract is worth A$101 million(USD 74.6 million), of which the about half (US$36.5 million) will be the original manufacturer's share.

DARPA is expecting to complete risk reduction studies in September, and select one of two competing designs for medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems (MALE UAS), to demonstrate drone operations from small and medium naval vessels by 2017.

Award of $4.3 million increase the Switchblade funded contract value to $63.8 million

AeroVironment Inc. announced today the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected the company and its industry team to follow its successful phase I concept design effort with preliminary design for the Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN).

Since August 2013 the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded several contracts for concept evaluations of the ship-based Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance...

AeroVironment, Inc. today announced it has received orders valued at $36,746,304 under a contract for Switchblade tactical missile systems, ancillary equipment and support. The new...

Flexible solar array manufacturer Alta Devices has recently conducted an experiment applying its flexible PV arrays onto an AeroVironment Inc. RQ-12A Puma AE small...

This 'Restricted category' certification marks the first time the FAA has approved a hand-launched unmanned aircraft system for commercial missions. The U.S. federal Aviation Authority...

The US Army announced has awarded Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract (ID/IQ) to five manufacturers of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) worth together up to...