Matthew Nelson
AeroVironment has secured a $45.1M firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Army to deliver small unmanned aircraft systems and initial spare kits to the service branch’s security force assistance brigades.
The RQ-11B Raven hand-launched unmanned aircraft works to perform land-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations and has a flying range of 10 kilometers, the company said Monday.
Additionally, the drone is equipped with a GPS tool for preconfigured and manual navigation and can provide infrared or color video capacities to warfighters via remote viewing stations and handheld ground control units.
Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development at AeroVironment, said the company’s small unmanned aircraft units currently support various service branches and over 45 U.S. allied nations. “Every day, AeroVironment small UAS provide the actionable intelligence our customers need to proceed with certainty,†added Pedigo.
The company is slated to deliver the drones in January.
