News & Articles

• Mantis i45 N provides maximum visibility during low-light or nighttime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations
• All-environment rated payload maintains similar footprint to battle proven Mantis i45, for fast in-field change-out of payloads between day and night operations
• No software updates required to Puma UAS avionics or ground control stations for legacy system compatibility

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 16, 2021 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today introduced the Mantis™ i45 N, a multi-sensor nighttime imaging payload compatible with Puma™ 2 AE, Puma™ 3 AE and Puma™ LE small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Lightweight (905 g) and compact, the new Mantis i45 N joins AeroVironment’s expansive Mantis product line of micro-gimbals delivering high-quality video and imagery downlink to UAS operators.

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• Switchblade 600 tactical missile system features high-precision optics, more than 40 minutes of loitering endurance and an anti-armor warhead for engaging and prosecuting hardened static and moving light armored vehicles
• Lightweight, self-contained Switchblade 600 launch tube system allows for deployment flexibility from fixed and mobile platforms on land, in air or at sea

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 4, 2021 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced it was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract on Sept. 28, 2021 by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for $20,321,973 for the procurement of Switchblade® 600 tactical missile systems (TMS). Delivery is scheduled to be completed by January 2023.

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• Initial proof-of-concept demonstration conducted in August 2021
• Leverages an AeroVironment end-to-end solution with combat-proven systems for increased mission autonomy and efficacy

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 3, 2021 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the successful demonstration of integrating Switchblade® 300 loitering missiles and JUMP® 20 medium unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for increased mission autonomy and efficacy. This Air Launched Effects (ALE) proof-of-concept demonstration took place in August 2021 with the goal of launching an inert Switchblade 300 from the JUMP 20 and successfully recovering both air vehicles.

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In mid-September 2021, AeroVironment participated in a major NATO-sponsored exercise called REP(MUS) 21, which stands for Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems, 2021. The event took place at the Portuguese Navy Centre for Operational Experimentation in Troia, Portugal, and included the navies from 13 active participating nations and three observing nations. REP(MUS) 21 was jointly organized by the Portuguese Navy, the University of Porto, NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation and the NATO Unmanned Systems Initiative. The objective was to enhance NATO members’ maritime capabilities.

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• Experimentation was part of NATO REP(MUS) 21 U.S./U.K. Interoperability to Interchangeability (I2I) initiatives using uncrewed systems
• First successful cross-domain, multi-national and I2I-enabled maritime sensor-to-shooter (S2S) demonstration of Puma 3 AE small unmanned aircraft system and Switchblade 300 tactical missile system
• Demonstrated the interoperability potential of multiple Command and Control Systems/Common Control Systems (CCS) to pass missions, C2 authority, and ISR/targeting data, enabling U.S. and U.K. common mission planning and execution systems in coordinated mission profiles
• International debut of the Precision Recovery System (PRS), which supported Puma 3 AE’s continuous mission taskings with a quick turnaround recover/launch capability using an automated net landing capability on an underway U.S. Navy ship

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 18, 2021 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the successful maritime demonstration of a Puma™ 3 AE small unmanned aircraft system and Switchblade® 300 tactical missile system sensor-to-shooter (S2S) capability as part of NATO REP(MUS) 21, Europe’s largest maritime unmanned systems operational experimentation exercise, hosted at the Portuguese Navy Centre for Operational Experimentation held in Troia, Portugal in September. The experimentation was part of a United States/United Kingdom Interoperability to Interchangeability (I2I) initiative using unmanned/uncrewed systems. 

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Did you know that the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has a terrestrial sibling? It’s true — meet, Terry Earth Copter — specifically designed for research and educational purposes.
Recently, the AeroVironment Mars team embarked on an opportunity to connect with various YMCA summer camp groups in the Simi Valley, CA area as part of their STEAM program.

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The US Army plans to procure a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) to replace the Textron RQ-7B Shadow tactical UAV currently in service with its Brigade Combat Teams.

One of the contenders for FTUAS is AeroVironment with its JUMP 20 system; in this video, the company's business development director Terry Stapleton discusses some of the features of this UAV and its progress to date in FTUAS assessments.

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One very rapid technology thrust in the unmanned vehicle market is in ground control stations – with good reasons, given the proliferation of such systems and the more demanding requirements being placed upon them. One ground control solution that caught MON’s attention is AeroVironment’s new offering, CRYSALIS, designed to replace the legacy, common-use GCS employed with the company’s existing RAVEN, WASP and PUMA sUAS. CRYSALIS responds to the pull of technology and the sophistication of today’s UAS operator.

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October 7, 2021, Sierra County, NM- AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) is expanding its footprint at Spaceport America bringing two new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) projects to New Mexico for testing and training. Operations forJUMP 20 medium unmanned aircraft systems (MUAS) and tactical unmanned aircraft systems (TUAS) have begun out of the Spaceport’s Vertical Launch Area. AeroVironment first became a tenant of the spaceport with the HAPSMobile Sunglider project, which flew twice in 2020.

“We developed a great relationship with AeroVironment last year, which has now expanded with these two new UAS projects,” said Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. “We appreciate their confidence in us and what we offer with our employees, our facilities, restricted airspace, remote location, and great weather for flight. Spaceport America’s business continues to grow and bring value to New Mexico.”

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• Final contract option exercised under the sole source Flight Control Systems (FCS) domain of the Army’s multi-year small unmanned aircraft systems contract
• Total final value of contract is $54,632,776
• U.S. Army possesses largest fleet of Raven tactical unmanned aircraft systems in the world

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 6, 2021 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the United States Army exercised the third and final option under the Flight Control Systems (FCS) domain of the Army’s multi-year small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) contract on Sept. 9, 2021. The value of the contract option is $11,731,740 and includes flight control system kits, ground control stations and tail booms for the Army’s existing fleet of Raven^® tactical UAS. Delivery is scheduled to be completed by September 2022.

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