Press Releases

• Puma 3 All Environment (AE) unmanned aircraft system delivers immediate tactical ISR in maritime and land based operations
• More than 45 allied governments have procured one or more of AeroVironment’s family of tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--at the Singapore Air Show - AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced it received a $8,584,734 firm-fixed-price U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales contract. The contract was awarded on December 17, 2019 to provide Puma™ 3 AE unmanned aircraft systems, training and support to an allied nation. Delivery is anticipated by June 2020.

“Customers in the United States and around the world deploy AeroVironment’s rugged family of tactical unmanned aircraft systems, including Puma, to provide their forces the actionable intelligence they need to proceed with certainty in a broad range of operating environments,” said Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development for AeroVironment. “We designed our combat-proven unmanned aircraft systems to be easy to use, reliable and to provide the operational flexibility frontline forces need to succeed in the most demanding conditions.”

SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 23, 2020– AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced the appointment of Kevin McDonnell as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective February 10, 2020.

"We welcome Kevin McDonnell to the AeroVironment team as senior vice president and CFO,” said Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment president and chief executive officer. “Kevin’s extensive leadership and CFO experience across diverse industries give him unique insights and perspectives that will support AeroVironment’s continued growth and success. Generating value for shareholders remains our top priority, and we look forward to working closely with Kevin to deliver on this objective.”

“I am excited to join AeroVironment at this exciting time in the company’s history,” said Mr. McDonnell. “The AeroVironment team has generated significant value for its shareholders, with a demonstrated track record of strong, profitable growth. I look forward to working with Wahid and the rest of the leadership team to enhance the company's financial and operational performance."

Brian Shackley, who served as interim chief financial officer during this extensive search, will remain vice president and controller. Mr. Nawabi continued, “We thank Brian for taking on the additional role of interim CFO throughout the search process, and look forward to continuing to benefit from his expertise and leadership as a key member of our team.”

About Kevin McDonnell

Prior to joining AeroVironment, Mr. McDonnell served as chief financial officer of JAMS, Inc., which provides alternative dispute resolution services. During his tenure at JAMS, Mr. McDonnell helped the company nearly double its revenue and more than double its EBITDA. Mr. McDonnell brings more than 30 years of experience in financial, IT and HR leadership roles, including serving as chief financial officer for companies in the technology, automotive and health industries. Most notably, Mr. McDonnell held various senior financial roles at Teradata Corporation during its high-growth phase, where the company grew from $3 million to $300 million in revenue and expanded globally into Europe and Asia. Mr. McDonnell also served as CFO of Digital Insight, where he was instrumental in significantly growing its annual revenue, taking the company public and leading three acquisitions.

Mr. McDonnell earned his J.D. at Loyola Law School and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

• Contract includes support, spares and repair services for existing fleet of Puma and Raven tactical unmanned aircraft systems
• More than 45 allied governments deploy systems from AeroVironment’s innovative family of tactical UAS

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 14, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced a major Middle Eastern ally awarded the company a firm fixed-price contract valued at $11,999,992 on October 25, 2019 for logistics support, spares, and repair services in support of its existing fleet of AeroVironment’s Puma™ AE and Raven® B tactical UAS. The contract award period of performance is two years.

• Potential contract options total as much as $55 million; initial base delivery order is $862,488
• Hand-launched AeroVironment Raven is the most widely used military unmanned aircraft system in the world

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 13, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for both defense and commercial applications, announced the U.S. Army awarded the company a firm-fixed-price contract on June 6, 2019 to begin radio frequency modifications on its currently deployed Raven® UAS. The initial base delivery order is $862,488, with potential contract options valued up to $55 million.

• New order expands customer’s fleet of Raven systems
• Raven is the most widely used military unmanned aircraft system in the world
• AeroVironment’s Family of Tactical UAS are deployed by more than 45 allied governments

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 4, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced it received a firm fixed-price contract valued at $6,408,542 from an existing Southeast Asian military customer on September 17, 2019 for additional Raven® unmanned aircraft systems. Delivery is anticipated within 12 months.

• Award builds on the U.S. Border Patrol’s ongoing use of Puma AE small unmanned aircraft systems for border and homeland security
• U.S. Border Patrol agents rapidly deploy Puma AE anywhere, anytime, in any environment for continuous or on-demand spot surveillance

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 22, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), received a $5,254,912 firm fixed-price contract award for Puma^TM 3 AE systems and support equipment on August 8, 2019 for the U.S. Border Patrol, part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Delivery is anticipated by January, 2020.

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Oct 21, 2019 – Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviors, has recognized AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company.

• Rapidly deployable via hand-launch, Puma LE’s 5.5-hour endurance delivers persistent data with increased time on station, in an economical two-case mission packout
• Puma LE’s 5.5-pound total payload capacity includes a secondary payload bay with dedicated power supply and Ethernet connection, making Puma LE the ideal multi-mission platform for third-party payload integration
• Shared plug-and-play interoperability with Puma AE components reduces logistical and training impact

WASHINGTON, at AUSA 2019 Annual Meeting & Exposition, Booth #425, Oct. 14, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced the launch of Puma LE (Long Endurance), the next generation in its Puma All Environment small UAS product line. Puma LE builds on the combat-proven Puma AE legacy with new capabilities, increased range, and expanded payload capacity. With the integrated Mantis i45 gimbaled EO/IR sensor and NVG-visible laser illuminator, Puma LE provides the warfighter with superior imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) during day, night and low-light operations on land and in maritime environments.

• Successful first test flight takes place less than two years after program start
• Test program to expand operating envelope with sequentially higher and longer flights

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 16, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for both defense and commercial applications, announced the successful first flight of the HAWK30 solar HAPS unmanned aircraft system on September 11, 2019 at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. AeroVironment partnered with SoftBank Corp (TOKYO:9434) to create HAPSMobile Inc., the joint venture funding HAWK30 design development and demonstration.

• VAPOR 35 and VAPOR 55 add vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and multi-payload capabilities, complementing and expanding AeroVironment’s leading fixed-wing small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
• VAPOR all-electric Helicopter UAS product line delivers advanced performance, endurance and payload flexibility, with up to 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) of usable payload capacity, and one hour of flight time on a single battery charge
• Addition of VAPOR strengthens AeroVironment’s commitment to delivering multi-mission operational capabilities and comprehensive small UAS solutions for defense, commercial and industrial customers
• AeroVironment combat-proven family of small UAS deliver actionable intelligence as the leading small UAS deployed by U.S. Armed Forces, and more than 45 allied governments

LONDON, at DSEI 2019, STAND N5-202, Sept. 10, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems for both defense and commercial applications, today announced the availability of its VAPOR all-electric Helicopter UAS at Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI), the world’s largest land, sea and air defense and security exhibition. Developed at AeroVironment Innovation Center-Midwest, VAPOR incorporates more than a decade of aerospace engineering, technical research and development to bring to market high-performance helicopter UAS at attractive price points for defense, commercial and industrial customers.