MONROVIA, Calif., 6 Sept. 2007. The U.S. Army has ordered $16.4 million in contract logistics services (CLS) in support of its Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from AeroVironment Inc. (AV), provider of unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems. These logistics services include refurbishment, reconstitution, and repair work, as well as the migration of systems to the latest configuration during the completion of refurbishment.
"Refurbishment is required because of extraordinary system usage and environmental conditions encountered in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)," according to an Army's representative.
"This order reflects the Army's desire to have the latest, most capable small UAS in service supporting troops on the ground," says John Grabowsky, AV's executive vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems. "The latest configuration of AV's Raven enables tactical units to operate even more effectively and efficiently, ultimately helping to save lives."
AV has produced more than 6,000 small and micro UAS, including Raven, Dragon Eye, Puma, and Wasp, and the U.S. Army alone has flown AV's Ravens for tens of thousands of hours in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
