Army Greenlights AeroVironment UAS Contract Option

Simi Valley, California-based AeroVironment reported that the U.S. Army elected to exercise the first of three contract options with the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) company. The $21.05 million t option under the sole-source, small UAS flight control systems, multi-year contract has AeroVironment providing avionics and data link upgrade packages to modify radio frequencies used by the Army’s existing fleet of the company's Raven tactical UAS. The company will deliver the upgrades over a two-year period. 

“AeroVironment is committed to providing continuous support to the Army’s ongoing, multi-year programs of record for tactical UAS, such as the Raven, with quick and efficient field upgrades to help operators around the world perform their missions more effectively,” said Rick Pedigo, vice president, Business Development and Sales for AeroVironment. 

AeroVironment’s Raven system is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for operations requiring low-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the company said.