MONROVIA, Calif., July 2, 2008 - AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has selected Puma AE as its All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) solution to the Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) requirement. The one-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with four one-year options, has a maximum value of $200,000,000, and provides for the purchase of aircraft, ground control systems, spares, repairs and training under a combination firm fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost reimbursable arrangement. The initial delivery order is valued at $6 million and is fully funded.
MONROVIA, Calif., May 30, 2008 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that The Netherlands Ministry of Defence, acting through its Defense Materiel Organization (DMO), has awarded AV a contract for RQ-11B (Raven) small unmanned aircraft systems. The order includes new aircraft systems as well as training, logistics support, and airworthiness certification. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, a ground control station, a remote video terminal, system spares, and related services. The total award value is $7.7 million and is fully funded.
MONROVIA, Calif., May 27, 2008 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced it has been awarded a Phase II contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design and build a flying prototype for the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) program.
MONROVIA, Calif., April 4, 2008 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, has been awarded three utility patents and six design patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) along with 12 European design patents relating to new approaches to renewable energy generation on buildings. The USPTO awarded the patents relating to the incorporation of AV’s Architectural Wind® system on rooftops.
MONROVIA, Calif.--AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that Michael Bissonette, formerly assistant general manager of AV's Energy Technology Center (ETC), has been appointed vice president and general manager of the ETC. Bissonette assumes the role previously occupied by Joseph Edwards, who has stepped down in preparation for his retirement.
MONROVIA, Calif., March 6, 2008 – AeroVironment (AV) (NASDAQ:AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that it has flown its Puma small unmanned aircraft for over nine hours, powered by an onboard fuel cell battery hybrid energy storage system. This broke the previous announced Puma flight record of over seven hours. A two-camera payload system provided a live, streaming video feed from the Puma, the largest of AV’s portfolio of small unmanned aircraft systems that also includes Raven and Wasp. The nine-hour flight duration more than triples the duration of Puma’s standard battery-only operation.
MONROVIA, Calif., Feb. 7, 2008 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that the U.S. Army has ordered additional RQ-11B (Raven) small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and associated services by the exercise of an option under an existing contract. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, a ground control station, system spares, and related services. The total award value is $45.8 million and is fully funded.
MONROVIA, Calif., Jan. 3, 2008 - AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that the United States Air Force BATMAV (Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle) program has received Milestone C approval and authorization for Full Rate Production. The BATMAV program achieved these two significant milestones under the rigors of the United States Department of Defense 5000 Acquisition process in just over 11 months from contract award. The Air Force selected AV's Wasp III as the micro air vehicle (MAV) for its BATMAV Program in December 2006.
MONROVIA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2007 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has ordered $19.3 million in BATMAV (Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle) systems, each consisting of two Wasp III micro air vehicles, AV’s Advanced Battery Charger, spares and support services. The order followed a successful Marine Corps evaluation of Wasp systems provided by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.
AFRL engineers, in conjunction with Small Business Innovation Research partners AeroVironment (AV), Protonex Technology (PTX) Corporation, and Millennium Cell (MCEL), successfully flight-demonstrated Puma, AV’s hand-launched small unmanned air vehicle (SUAV) that gets its power from a hybrid fuel cell/battery energy storage system. Puma flew for 7+ continuous hours on power supplied by PTX Corporation’s PTX.L fuel cell system. The hybridized proton exchange membrane fuel cell employs a lithium ion battery to provide peak power during takeoff and dash maneuvers; the fuel cell recharges the battery and provides continuous steady-state power for the plane and payload during cruise flight. MCEL provided a fuel cartridge of sodium borohydride (chemical hydride), which provided the fuel necessary for the fuel cell system’s 7-hour, 3-minute flight.
