AeroVironment integrates M1/M2/M5 digital data link into small UAS

AeroVironment has integrated the new M1/M2/M5 radio frequencies into its Raven and Puma AE hand-launched drones, giving customers the ability to seamlessly and securely conform to the U.S. DOD's new frequency spectrum allocation. (Photo: Business Wire)

QUANTICO, Va.AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global provider of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for military and commercial applications, has delivered M1/M2/M5-compatible Raven and Puma AE unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to two Department of Defense (DOD) customers. The company has more orders and deliveries scheduled, officials say, and will start taking orders in December 2017 for its M1/M2/M5-configured Wasp AE micro air vehicles (MAV), for delivery in spring 2018.

“Integrating the new M1/M2/M5 radio frequencies into our family of small UAS (sUAS) gives our customers the ability to seamlessly and securely conform to the Department of Defense‘s new frequency spectrum allocation and proceed with certainty,” says David Sharpin, vice president of AeroVironment’s Tactical UAS Business Unit. “By combining all three frequency bands in the same transceiver module, we’ve made it easy for users to select the frequency band associated with the part of the world in which they are operating without having to swap any hardware.”

RQ-11B Raven®, RQ-12 Wasp®, RQ-20A Puma™, RQ-20B Puma, and Snipe Nano UAS comprise AeroVironment’s family of small unmanned aircraft systems. Operating with a common ground control system (GCS), this family of systems provides increased capability to the warfighter that can give ground commanders the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of mission to be performed. This increased capability has the potential to provide significant force protection and force multiplication benefits to small tactical units and security personnel.

AeroVironment provides logistics services worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness and provides mission services for customers requiring only the information its small UAS produce. AeroVironment has delivered thousands of new and replacement small unmanned air vehicles to customers within the United States and to more than 40 international governments.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) provides customers with more actionable intelligence so they can proceed with certainty. Based in California, AeroVironment is a global provider of unmanned aircraft systems, tactical missile systems, and electric vehicle charging and test systems, and serves militaries, government agencies, businesses, and consumers.

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