AeroVironment wins $7.8 Million Order for Raven UAV digital module upgrade kits

Posted by John McHale
MONROVIA, Calif., 31 Jan. 2011. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) won a firm fixed-price order valued at $7,800,003 under an existing contract with the U.S. Army to provide 919 digital module upgrade kits for the U.S. Marine Corps. The upgrade kits allow digital Raven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate using a different frequency band than provided by the stock configuration.
The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for over the hill and around the corner reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition in support of tactical units. U.S. armed forces use Raven systems extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning, and force protection. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, two ground control stations, and spares.
In addition to the Raven system, AeroVironment's small UAVs include Puma and Wasp, which are also hand-launched and controlled by AeroVironment's hand-held ground control station. Each aircraft in AeroVironment's family of small UAVs is interoperable and tailored to address a variety of operational user needs.
Funding for this order was appropriated for RQ-11B Raven system procurement in the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in December 2009. Work is scheduled to be completed by April 30, 2011.