U.S. Air Force approves BATMAV system with AeroVironment's Wasp III micro air vehicle for production

MONROVIA, Calif., 7 Jan. 2008.AeroVironment Inc. (AV), maker of unmanned aircraft systems and electric energy systems, announced that the United States Air Force BATMAV (Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle) program has received Milestone C approval and authorization for Full Rate Production.

The BATMAV program achieved these two milestones under the rigors of the United States Department of Defense 5000 Acquisition process in just over 11 months from contract award. The Air Force selected AV's Wasp III as the micro air vehicle (MAV) for its BATMAV Program in December 2006.

With a wingspan of 29 inches and weighing only 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 handheld 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.