AeroVironment gains $65 million Digital Puma unmanned aircraft systems order

Posted by Courtney E. Howard WASHINGTON, 26 Aug. 2011. AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) won a $65,532,394 firm-fixed-price contract delivery order for new digital Puma All Environment unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and initial spares packages, procured via an existing United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Deliveries will be completed over the next several months.

“Puma systems have demonstrated their effectiveness and are receiving high marks from customers for their image quality and overall capabilities,” says Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “Like Raven and Wasp, Puma is helping to expand the role of small unmanned aircraft systems, and, in the process, is protecting our forces and helping them do their jobs more effectively.”

USSOCOM officials selected the Puma UAS for the AECV program in 2008. A single Puma system includes three air vehicles and two ground control systems. The air vehicle, which carries an integrated electro-optical and an infrared gimbaled video payload, is designed for enhanced durability in land and maritime environments and to operate effectively in foul weather and over rugged terrain.

The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered, and can achieve a flight endurance of up to two hours.