By Andy Choi
AeroVironment recently declared that it will supply four of the company’s small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the U.S. Marine Corps. Based on an existing U.S. Army contract, the company received the fixed-price order worth $5,558,479 for its RQ-20A Puma AE.
Puma AE in Flight (Photo: Business Wire)
The products are expected to be delivered within two weeks. The U.S. Marine Corps, which will be the first military service to adopt the company’s small UAS.
According to AeroVironment senior VP and general manager of UAS business segment, Tom Herring, the Marine Corps were the first military service to achieve the adoption of the company’s small unmanned aircraft systems and is again the first to adopt four of AeroVironment’s UAS. This contract reflects the potential of the company and the value of its products. At situations involving high risk and short duration, small UAS offer critical information that enables the troops to carry out a more secured and efficient operation.
The Marine Corps were the first U.S. military service to complete an initiative of record for small unmanned aircraft systems, in 2003. It was successful due to its competitive selection of AeroVironment’s RQ-14 Dragon Eye that supported the Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS) program. In 2007, AeroVironment Wasp systems was sold to the Marines, which was followed by the replacement of the Dragon Eye fleet with AeroVironment’s RQ-11B Raven system in 2009. Following the delivery of Puma systems, the Marine Corps will be the first to adopt four of AeroVironment’s small UAS.
Source: http://www.avinc.com/