Release Details

MONROVIA, Calif., May 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ:AVAV) announced it received an order valued at $11,198,967 under an existing contract with the U.S. Army. The order comprises 63 new digital Raven^(R) small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), services supporting the Army's evaluation of the small UAS Family of Systems concept and additional engineering services.

This order follows two recent orders under the existing U.S. Army contract that had previously been announced by the Department of Defense. On March 30, 2010, AV received a $6,781,162 firm fixed-price order for 51 digital Raven systems, initial spares packages and contractor logistics support for the U.S. Marine Corps. On April 12, 2010, AV received an additional $12,294,916 firm fixed-price order for 216 retrofit kits to upgrade existing analog Raven systems with AV's digital data link.

The orders were released under the existing U.S. Army joint small UAS program of record for AV's Raven. This program has included contract additions from the Army, Marine Corps, Special Operations Command and other U.S. military services. The items and services provided under these awards on this multi-year contract are fully funded and are scheduled to be delivered within the next 12 months.

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. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, two ground control stations and spares.

In addition to the Raven system, AV's small UAS include Puma(TM) and Wasp(TM), which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV's hand-held ground control station. Each aircraft in AV's family of small UAS is interoperable and tailored to address a variety of operational user needs. 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. International purchasers of Raven systems include Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands 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 battery-powered, hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. AV's clean transportation solutions include power cycling and test systems and industrial electric vehicle charging systems for commercial and institutional customers, in addition to EV home chargers and EV fast chargers for consumers. More information about AV is available at www.avinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

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@boyersyndicate.com

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