AeroVironment (AV) has announced its award of a $45.8 million 12-month contract option by the US Army for additional units of the company's RQ-11B Raven and associated services, under an existing multi-year contract.
AV's Raven is a 1.9kg (4.2lb), 1.4m (4.5ft) wingspan, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform with a 10km (5.4nm) range and an endurance of up to 110min.
It provides day and night, real-time video imagery for "over the hill" and "around the corner" reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, a ground control station, system spares, and related services.
The option's additional units will be supplied within the next 12 months. The option was submitted under the US Army joint small programme of record for AV's Raven and will provide systems for the army and US Marine corps.
"We are pleased to support the army and marine corps' expanding roll-out of Raven systems," said AV executive vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems John Grabowsky.
According to Aerovironment, the US armed forces use Ravens for base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection. The army flew the small UAV for about 150,000 combat hours in 2007.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
