AeroVironment wins $11.5 million order for digital Puma unmanned systems, training services

MONROVIA, Calif., 22 April 2011. AeroVironment Inc. has received an $11,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract delivery order for new digital Puma All Environment (AE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), initial spares packages, and training services. Deliveries under the existing United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract will be completed over the next several months.

“Puma is already making a difference in the field. Our customers cite the quality of its imagery and its overall usefulness, which they say make Puma instrumental in saving lives,” says Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “We see more opportunities ahead for Puma to help our customers where and when they need it.”

USSOCOM selected the Puma UAS in 2008 for its AECV program after a full and open competition, the fourth U.S. Department of Defense competition for programs of record involving small UAS and the fourth such competition won by AeroVironment.

Each Puma includes three air vehicles, each with an integrated electro-optical and an infrared gimbaled video payload, and two ground control systems. The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered, and has a flight endurance of two hours.