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Netherlands Ministry of Defence Selects AeroVironment's Raven Small UAS
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May 30 2008
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.
“We performed a thorough competitive selection process and the Raven came out as a clear winner,” said Frans Klein, Head Section Unmanned Aircrafts for The Netherlands Defense Materiel Organisation. “Decisive elements in the selection were hand-launchability, reliability, ease of use, robustness, and proven, in-theatre operational performance.”
“The selection of Raven by The Netherlands Ministry of Defence demonstrates confidence in its proven reliability and ability to support operational needs wherever required,” said Ilker “Ike” Bayraktar, AV vice president of international initiatives. “This contract award is another example of AV’s continued progress in introducing this joint capability to allied military forces.”
AV’s Raven is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for “over the hill” and “around the corner” reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. U.S. armed forces use Ravens extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection. In addition to Raven, AV’s small UAS include Puma and Wasp, which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV’s hand-held ground control station. AV’s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered more than 9,000 small unmanned aircraft to date. Other international purchasers of Raven include Italy, Denmark, Australia and Spain.
# # # “We performed a thorough competitive selection process and the Raven came out as a clear winner,” said Frans Klein, Head Section Unmanned Aircrafts for The Netherlands Defense Materiel Organisation. “Decisive elements in the selection were hand-launchability, reliability, ease of use, robustness, and proven, in-theatre operational performance.”
“The selection of Raven by The Netherlands Ministry of Defence demonstrates confidence in its proven reliability and ability to support operational needs wherever required,” said Ilker “Ike” Bayraktar, AV vice president of international initiatives. “This contract award is another example of AV’s continued progress in introducing this joint capability to allied military forces.”
AV’s Raven is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for “over the hill” and “around the corner” reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. U.S. armed forces use Ravens extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection. In addition to Raven, AV’s small UAS include Puma and Wasp, which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV’s hand-held ground control station. AV’s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered more than 9,000 small unmanned aircraft to date. Other international purchasers of Raven include Italy, Denmark, Australia and Spain.
About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
AeroVironment is a technology solutions provider that designs, develops, produces and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and electric transportation solutions. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s electric-powered, hand-launched unmanned aircraft systems extensively to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and communication. Multiple government agencies have helped to fund the development and demonstration of Global Observer, a hybrid-electric, stratospheric UAS designed to provide affordable, persistent reconnaissance and communication over any location on the globe. Switchblade is a loitering munition designed to provide a rapid, lethal, pinpoint precision strike capability with minimal collateral damage. AeroVironment’s electric transportation solutions include a comprehensive suite of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, installation and data services for consumers, automakers, utilities and government agencies, power cycling and test systems for EV developers and industrial electric vehicle charging systems for commercial fleets.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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