Press Releases

Building on AeroVironment’s tactical missile legacy, the Switchblade 300 Block 20 offers enhanced operational features and performance

ARLINGTON, Va., March 28, 2023 – AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) today unveiled the newest version of its Switchblade® 300 rapidly deployable loitering missile system. The Switchblade 300 Block 20 builds on Block 10C’s battle-proven performance with new operational features and significant performance and capability improvements.

Switchblade 300 Block 20 is portable, lightweight, and easy to operate, requiring only a single operator. The new tablet-based Fire Control System allows operators to easily train, plan, and execute missions. Operation of the system is further simplified by offering an integrated control directly onto the launcher tube.

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• AeroVironment is the only company to secure an award for all FTUAS program increments, including FTUAS Increments 0,1 and now 2
• Increment 2 is the final phase of the U.S. Army’s FTUAS program competition to select a replacement for the RQ-7B Shadow UAS 

ARLINGTON, Va., March 1, 2023 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced it was selected by the United States Army on Feb. 28, 2023, to move forward in the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) program.

AeroVironment’s JUMP® 20 will compete with several other vendors in the FTUAS Increment 2 multi-phased effort which will allow the Army to select the best system for its needs. Ultimately, FTUAS Increment 2 aircraft will be fielded to Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) throughout the Army, replacing the long-serving RQ-7B Shadow UAS.

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• Combat-proven Switchblade with patented wave-off and recommit capability provides operators with increased lethality, reach and precision strike capabilities with minimal collateral effects

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 22, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced it received a $20,602,464 firm-fixed-price contract award on Aug. 18, 2022 from the U.S. Army Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) project office for the procurement of Switchblade® 300 tactical missile systems (TMS). The contract will be managed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal and is scheduled to be delivered by July 2023.

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• Portable, rugged Puma 3 All Environment (AE) unmanned aircraft system provides immediate tactical reconnaissance capabilities for land and maritime operations
• Foreign Military Sales program promotes interoperability among U.S. and allied forces for joint operations
• Customers are among the more than 50 allied governments employing AeroVironment’s unmanned aircraft systems

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 20, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced it received two firm-fixed-price U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract awards totaling $20,868,105 to provide Puma™ 3 AE small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), initial spares packages, training and Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) to two allied nations.

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• System determines precise location of the aircraft during flight without relying on GPS
• Will enable increasingly advanced navigational capabilities, features and functionality through future software and hardware updates
• Available as an add-on option for new Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE system orders and as a retrofit kit for fielded systems

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 15, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today introduced Puma™ VNS, a visual-based navigation system for Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) that will enable GPS-denied navigation across increasingly GPS-contested environments.

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• Next-generation VAPOR 55 delivers more simplified, modular design with performance improvements that optimize user experience
•  Redesigned for increased levels of operational efficiency with 25 percent increased endurance and 20 percent increased payload capacity
•  New payload interface and tool-free quick rail mount enables quick and easy field integration of both current and future payloads for increased mission flexibility

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 13, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the launch of the next-generation VAPOR® Helicopter unmanned aircraft system (UAS), VAPOR 55 MX. Delivering new levels of operational performance with a completely redesigned modular autonomy framework, VAPOR 55 MX enables increased endurance and expanded payload capacity to meet current and emerging needs of defense, commercial and industrial customers.

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• Mantis i23 D is a compact, high-performance daytime imaging payload system for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations at an extended range
• Features 24X digital zoom video for extended ISR without compromising image quality
• Payload provides 50 percent wider HFOV and more than four times the target detection capability over the current Mantis i23 for improved situational awareness

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 30, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today introduced Mantis™ i23 D, a multi-sensor daytime imaging payload compatible with the Raven® B small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS). An enhanced daylight variant of its predecessor, the Mantis i23, Mantis i23 D maintains its ruggedized design and utilizes the same modular interface to allow for quick and simple swapping between payloads with no software updates required to the avionics or ground control systems.

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• Emphasizes AeroVironment’s commitment to transparency of its environmental, social and governance practices 
• Report establishes baseline metrics that the company can build upon

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 23, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, announced today the publication of its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility report, detailing the company’s environmental, social and governance achievements to date and its commitment to developing sustainable products, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce, and pursuing continuous improvement in environmental performance for the future. The company plans to release an updated report on progress annually.

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• FTUAS to replace RQ-7B Shadow UAS currently fielded in selected Brigade Combat Teams
• Increment 1 entails testing and fielding JUMP 20 medium unmanned aircraft on an accelerated schedule as it competes to become the U.S. Army’s FTUAS of choice  
• The JUMP 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), runway independent medium unmanned aircraft system provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services with increased maneuverability, and improved command and control

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 19, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced it received an Other Transaction Agreement award by the United States Army on Aug. 18, 2022 for Increment 1 of the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) program. The contract encompasses the purchase, testing and delivery of one JUMP® 20 medium unmanned aircraft system (MUAS) to a selected Army Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and associated services, training and support.

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• Transaction significantly accelerates AeroVironment’s development of advanced autonomy capabilities for the company’s unmanned aircraft systems
• Embedded flight autonomy solution enables intelligent unmanned aircraft system capabilities for operations from moving vehicles and vessels on land or at sea

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, announced today it has acquired Planck Aerosystems, Inc. (“Planck”), a leading provider of advanced unmanned aircraft navigation solutions. The acquisition will significantly accelerate AeroVironment’s development of advanced autonomy capabilities.

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