Viasat has partnered with AeroVironment to enable flying small UAS platforms to deploy a robust, on-demand, highly-secure communications network under a contract awarded under the U.S. Army Reconfigurable Communications for Small Unmanned Systems (RCSUS) initiative, Viasat reported on Thursday. Viasat will work with AeroVironment to develop and demonstrate advanced, encrypted communications for AeroVironment's portable, hand-launched Puma AE tactical UAS. 

AeroVironment has introduced new additions to its Switchblade family of loitering missile systems designed to handle munitions and electro-optical/infrared payloads for detecting, tracking and engaging targets beyond the line of sight.

AeroVironment has unveiled two optional features for its portfolio of small tactical unmanned aircraft systems that are equipped with electro-optical/infrared imaging and plug-and-play components.

AeroVironment has unveiled an automated lightweight unmanned aircraft system designed to deliver georeferenced aerial imagery for on-site mission and verification purposes.

AeroVironment won a $10.6M contract to deliver a portable unmanned aircraft system and associated spares in support of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy's Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program.

AeroVironment conducted flight tests for a larger variant model of a missile platform designed for military combat operations, FlightGlobal reported Friday.

AeroVironment received a multimillion dollar contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under the Microscale Biomimetic Robust Artificial Intelligence Networks program to study the brains of dragonfly and house fly to gain insights for use in the development of new AI models.

HAPSMobile, a joint venture between Japan-based SoftBank and AeroVironment, has completed the second trial flight of a solar-powered unmanned aircraft.

AeroVironment has secured a $5.3M contract to deliver units of a small unmanned aircraft system and support tools to a branch within U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

AeroVironment has released a long endurance variant of the firm’s Puma small unmanned aircraft system, a platform that captures imagery for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

AeroVironment has completed the initial flight of a solar-powered unmanned aircraft system under a partnership with Japanese company SoftBank.

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.