On Aug. 13, 2013, AeroVironment Inc. received a $13,487,240 order from the United States Army. The order – the final portion of a contract valued at $59.6 million – includes RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), miniature gimbaled payloads, and initial spares packages. The order is funded from the Army’s fiscal 2012 procurement budget. Delivery of systems, spares, and payloads is scheduled for completion by Sept. 15, 2013.
“In addition to serving United States warfighters, we have also expanded our small UAS to 24 international military forces. Looking ahead, AeroVironment continues to focus on innovation and post-sale support to ensure that our customers maintain their battlefield advantage.”
AeroVironment received three prior orders against this contract in May 2012, August 2012, and March 2013 for $15.8 million, $16.5 million, and $13.8 million, respectively. The total actual value of the contract is $59.6 million, compared to its initial projected “not to exceed” value of $65.9 million.
The RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft system is a 4.5 lb, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery wirelessly to a portable ground control station for "over the hill" and "around the corner" reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. Raven systems now come equipped with AeroVironment’s fully stabilized Mantis gimbaled payload, incorporating electro-optical and infrared video sensors and a laser illuminator. U.S. armed forces use Raven systems extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning, and force protection. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, two ground control stations and spares.
Earlier in the week, an AeroVironment spokesman announced that a recent outdoor test flight of a solar-powered prototype version of the company’s Puma AE small UAS, operating with the company’s newest long-endurance battery, lasted 9 hours, 11 minutes – a long flight endurance for a small UAS.