Sat, Feb 09, 2008
Will Provide Add'l Raven Small UAS, Support Services
The US Army likes its Ravens. On Thursday, AeroVironment, Inc.
announced the Army has exercised its option on additional RQ-11B
Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and associated
services, under an existing contract. Each Raven system typically
consists of three aircraft, a ground control station, system
spares, and related services. The total award value is $45.8
million and is fully funded.
The option was submitted under the existing US Army joint small
UAS program of record for AV's Raven and will provide systems for
the Army and Marine Corps. This program allows for contract
additions from the Army, Special Operations Command and other US
military services. The items provided under this one-year option on
the multi-year contract are scheduled to be delivered within one
year of the contract award date.
"We are pleased to support the Army and Marine Corps' expanding
rollout of Raven systems to the tactical ground forces that rely on
them. Our partnership with our customers enables us to provide them
with battle-proven, durable Raven systems that perform reliably
when and where they are needed," said John Grabowsky, AV executive
vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems.
"The increased deployment of Raven systems across the US armed
forces reflects the joint and interoperable nature of this
solution."
AV's Raven is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor
platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for
"over the hill" and "around the corner" reconnaissance,
surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units.
US armed forces use Ravens extensively for missions such as base
security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force
protection.
According to the US Army, Ravens were flown for approximately
150,000 combat hours in 2007. In addition to Raven, AV's small UAS
include Puma and Wasp, which are also hand-launched and controlled
by AV's hand-held, common ground control station. AV's UAS
logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a
consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered
more than 8,000 small unmanned aircraft to date.
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