P550™
04/03/2026
Product Family: P550
News
Army Accelerates Long Range Reconnaissance UAS Capability
08/21/2025
The Army recently awarded contracts to AeroVironment and Edge Autonomy to rapidly deliver initial Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) systems. The AeroVironment P550 and Edge Autonomy Stalker Block 35X are Group 2 UAS designed to provide Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) organic to maneuver battalions. Capabilities include an open systems architecture, allowing quick integration of additional capabilities to meet ground commanders’ mission requirements, primarily at the Battalion level.
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Press Release
AV Delivers Initial P550 Autonomous Group 2 eVTOL Unmanned Aircraft Systems to U.S. Army for LRR Program
08/20/2025
ARLINGTON, Va., August 20, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the successful delivery of its Group 2 P550™ small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) to the U.S. Army as part of the Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program to support training and operations for Transformation in Contact (TiC) brigades. This initial delivery includes multiple P550 systems along with new equipment training and training master trainers to ensure mission readiness and rapid integration into the U.S. Army TiC Brigades and other designated units.
This milestone marks a significant achievement for both the Army and the all-new P550 product line. Built from the ground up with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the P550 is designed to meet evolving warfighter requirements, enabling rapid adaptation in dynamic, contested environments with multiple payload, radio, and power options to counter emerging threats and enhance lethality. It builds on decades of AV’s UAS development and production of combat-proven systems delivered to the Department of Defense and over 50 partner nations.
“We are proud to deliver the P550 to Army units, empowering warfighters with a system that can quickly adapt to fluid combat scenarios, providing unmatched reliability and flexibility,” said Trace Stevenson, AV’s President of Autonomous Systems. “Our team remains committed to supporting the Army with seamless delivery, training, and sustainment to ensure these systems are ready when needed.”
The P550 is AV’s latest autonomous Group 2 eVTOL system, redefining battlefield adaptability with rapid deployment, advanced situational awareness, and targeting and strike capabilities. Its proven AI and autonomy enable smarter, safer operations for maneuver forces. With class-leading payload capacity up to 15 pounds, endurance of up to 5 hours on all-battery power, and a Gross Take-Off Weight (GTOW) of 55 pounds, it can be reconfigured in under five minutes without tools, including hot-swapping payloads and batteries. Its open and scalable architecture not only future proofs the P550 for continuous upgrades but also keeps pace with technological advancements at low cost and risk.
The initial deliveries included comprehensive new equipment training conducted by AV’s field service representatives to ensure operators and maintainers can effectively integrate the P550 into their units. The systems were received by PM and evaluated by Master Trainers, who completed “train-the-trainer” instruction to enable rapid fielding and operational integration.
AV will continue to fulfill additional orders to support the Army’s evolving operational requirements.
About AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.
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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AeroVironment
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AeroVironment introduces customizable AI UAV to the battlefield: Weapon of the Week
12/11/2024
AeroVironment, a leading defense contractor based in Virginia, had a bustling 2024. Known for designing and producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the company saw significant milestones this year.
In May, AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 loitering munition system was selected for Tranche 1 of the Department of Defense’s Replicator Initiative. By June, these systems were already deployed and in the hands of American troops.
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Press Release
AV Unveils P550: Autonomous Group 2 eVTOL UAS, Ushers in a New Era of Battlefield Adaptability and Mission Flexibility for Maneuver Forces
10/14/2024
Arlington, Va., October 14, 2024 – AeroVironment (AV) has introduced the P550™ advanced autonomous Group 2 eVTOL uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed to set a new standard for battlefield adaptability and operational readiness. Leveraging a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and AI-driven autonomy, P550 is engineered to empower maneuver forces to quickly respond to evolving mission demands with rapid deployment, scalability, and superior situational awareness.
Unveiled at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting, the P550’s all-electric powertrain provides flight endurance of over 5 hours and a multi-sensor payload capacity of up to 15 pounds. This endurance and payload capability deliver critical intelligence gathering, precision targeting, and force protection in dynamic and contested environments.
“Warfighters today require systems that can quickly adapt to fluid combat scenarios, providing unmatched reliability and flexibility,” said Trace Stevenson, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of Uncrewed Systems. “P550 meets these needs through an adaptable, field-reconfigurable design that allows rapid, on-the-fly adjustments for evolving operational requirements.”
At the core of P550 is its MOSA framework, enabling seamless integration with third-party payloads, datalinks, ground control systems, and mission software. This open and scalable architecture not only future-proofs the UAS for continuous upgrades but also keeps pace with technological advancements at low cost and risk. P550’s standard interfaces allow interoperability with multiple ground control systems providing operators with mission flexibility and compatibility across various platforms.
Purpose-built for rapid deployment in any environment, P550’s modular design features toolless airframe assembly with hot-swappable batteries and multi-sensor payloads ensuring maximum operational readiness. For enhanced lethality, the UAS supports a range of offensive capabilities, including laser designation, sensor-to-shooter functionalities, and proven munitions. Its modular communication architecture further boosts operational resilience by offering flexible datalink options, maintaining reliable performance even in complex, contested environments.
P550 integrates AV’s SPOTR-Edge™ Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) and AVACORE™ software suite for onboard edge computing. These advanced AI capabilities enable the UAS to autonomously detect and classify operationally relevant objects—ranging from personnel and vehicles to aircraft and maritime vessels—day or night, ultimately enhancing situational awareness and tactical decision-making on the battlefield.
Building on AV’s three-decade legacy of delivering reliable, combat-proven UAS, P550 demonstrates a continued commitment to providing intelligent, autonomous platforms that ensure operational superiority. The system’s modular, future-ready architecture allows for continuous evolution, meeting the demands of today’s battlefields while remaining prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
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AeroVironment CEO Provides Testimony to U.S. Congress on the Capabilities of Unmanned and Robotic Systems in Support of National Security
06/22/2023
On June 22, AeroVironment’s Chairman, President and CEO Wahid Nawabi testified before the House Subcommittee on Cyber Security, Information Technology and Government Innovation. The hearing, titled “Using Cutting-Edge Technologies to Keep America Safe,” explored how new and innovative technology – such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and intelligent robotic systems – are helping our military, law enforcement, and border security officials protect our citizens and borders.
Please see below for Mr. Nawabi’s full prepared remarks presented before the subcommittee. A video of the hearing in its entirety is available here.