Certification Permits Operation of Raven in Dutch National Airspace by
the Military
MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 2009--
AeroVironment,
Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that the Military Aviation
Authority of the Netherlands (MLA-NLD) has issued a Military Type
Certificate (MTC) for the Raven® B NLD MUAS, the first such certificate
issued in the Netherlands in the Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle category.
This certificate permits Dutch military personnel to operate Raven
systems in designated Dutch airspace.
The AeroVironment Raven B system was selected by the Netherlands
Ministry of Defence, acting through its Defence Materiel Organization
(DMO), after performing an open competition in 2007. Key elements
resulting in its selection were hand-launchability, reliability, ease of
use, robustness, and demonstrated in-theater operational performance and
logistics support. The DMO subsequently purchased Raven B systems and
support services, including training of military users.
“Receiving this MTC validates the Raven system's airworthiness and
reliability, but also represents an important step toward the operation
of small UAS in our national airspace," said Dick Goedhart, head section
type management unmanned aircraft, DMO. “This MTC also makes it possible
for us to use Raven for non-military applications, though for those
activities segregation of airspace must still be managed by procedures.”
The Raven unmanned aircraft 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. U.S. armed forces use
Raven systems extensively for missions such as base security, route
reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection.
In addition to the Raven system, AV’s small UAS include Puma
AE™ and Wasp™,
which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV’s hand-held ground
control station. AV’s UAS logistics operation supports systems
deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational
readiness. AV has delivered thousands of small unmanned aircraft to
date. In addition to the Netherlands, international purchasers of Raven
systems include Italy, Denmark, and Spain.
About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops,
produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. Agencies of the
U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the
company’s hand-launched
UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units
through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target
acquisition. Commercial and government entities use AV’s clean
transportation solutions such as power
cycling and test systems and electric
vehicle fast charge systems. More information about AV is available
at www.avinc.com.
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Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking
statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current
expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive,
governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may
cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and
obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the
activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to
grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new
products or integrate new technology with current products; and general
economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in
the world. For a further list and description of such risks and
uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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Source: AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin
+1 (626) 357-9983
pr@avinc.com
or
Mark
Boyer
For AeroVironment, Inc.
+1 (310) 229-5956
mark@boyersyn.com
