MONROVIA, Calif., 4 Jan. 2008. U.S. Air Force officials have approved the Wasp III micro air vehicle (MAV) from AeroVironment Inc. in Monrovia, Calif., for full-rate production in support of the Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle program, better-known as BATMAV. The Air Force chose the Wasp III as the MAV for BATMAV in December 2006.

With a wingspan of 29 inches and weighing one pound, the Wasp III carries interchangeable targeting payload modules, including an infrared camera, along with two integrated color cameras that transmit streaming video directly to the hand-held ground controller for display on an integrated monitor.

Wasp III is the first micro air vehicle to be adopted by the U.S. armed forces in support of a program of record, AeroVironment officials say. Its portability and reliability are being demonstrated through continuing evaluation in forward locations.

In November 2007 the U.S. Marine Corps awarded AV a $19.3 million contract for Wasp III MAV systems under the Air Force BATMAV Contract. The Marines plan to deploy Wasp at the platoon level and use it with the Raven small UAS systems, which they currently deploy at the company and battalion levels.

For more information contact AeroVironment online at www.avinc.com.