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Three-phase development program aims to produce a low-cost,
large-scale prototype vehicle
MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AeroVironment,
Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) announced that it has been selected by the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to provide its
market-leading expertise in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) toward the
development of a new category of this technology. AeroVironment will
work as the prime contractor with DARPA on the Tactically Exploited
Reconnaissance Node (TERN) Program to develop a medium-altitude,
long-endurance (MALE) UAS designed to operate from small ships to
provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
capabilities. Sierra Nevada Corporation will subcontract to
AeroVironment on the project, which is valued at $2.3 million
"We are excited to have been selected by DARPA and about what this
signifies for the future of the UAS industry," said Roy Minson,
AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of the company's
UAS business segment. "TERN represents an entirely new category of UAS
that has the potential to meet the evolving needs of customers for ISR
capabilities. We look forward to applying our extensive experience in
creating unique, high-quality and battle-proven UAS solutions to develop
a concept with the TERN team that addresses DARPA's requirements."
"AeroVironment's history of innovation has long been a strategic
differentiator, and we believe this award from DARPA is a testament to
our market-leading position and capabilities," said Tim Conver,
AeroVironment's chief executive officer and chairman. "This is a time of
significant opportunity and progress at AeroVironment as we execute on
our fiscal 2014 plan. We look forward to building on our momentum, and
important collaborations like this, as we continue to address new and
unique customer challenges."
The intent of the TERN program is to produce a low-cost, large-scale
TERN prototype vehicle over the course of three development phases that
would demonstrate automatic launch and recovery and key technologies
required by a TERN objective system. The mission performance goals for
the operational TERN system are comparable to emerging land-based MALE
UAV capabilities.
The ultimate goal for a TERN objective system air vehicle is to enable
persistent ISR capabilities with payloads of 600 pounds while operating
up to 900 nautical miles from a host vessel. The TERN objective system
is intended to operate from multiple ship types, including Littoral
Combat Ship 2 (LCS-2) class ships, and in elevated sea states.
The phase 1 concept definition contract was awarded on August 26, 2013.
As part of the agreement, Sierra Nevada Corporation will subcontract to
AeroVironment for ship integration.
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About AeroVironment's Family of Small UAS
RQ-11B
Raven®, RQ-12
Wasp AE™, RQ-20A
Puma AE™ and Shrike
VTOL™ comprise AeroVironment's Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft
Systems. Operating with a common
ground control system (GCS), this Family of Systems provides
increased capability to the warfighter that can give ground commanders
the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of
mission to be performed. This increased capability has the potential to
provide significant force protection and force multiplication benefits
to small tactical units and security personnel. AeroVironment provides
logistics services worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of
operational readiness and provides mission services for customers
requiring only the information its small UAS produce. AeroVironment has
delivered thousands of new and replacement small unmanned air vehicles
to customers within the United States and to more than twenty
international governments.
The Qube™
small UAS is tailored to search and rescue, first response, law
enforcement and other public safety missions. Small enough to fit easily
in the trunk of a car, the Qube system can be unpacked, assembled and
ready for flight in less than five minutes, giving the operator a
rapidly deployable eye in the sky at a fraction of the cost of manned
aircraft and large unmanned aircraft.
About AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment is a technology
solutions provider that designs, develops, produces, operates and
supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned
Aircraft Systems (UAS) and electric transportation solutions.
Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services
use the company's electric-powered, hand-launched
unmanned aircraft systems extensively to provide situational
awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne
reconnaissance, surveillance and communication. Multiple government
agencies helped to fund the development and demonstration of Global
Observer®, a hybrid-electric,
stratospheric UAS designed to provide affordable, persistent
reconnaissance and communication over any location on the globe. Switchblade™
is a tactical missile system designed to provide a rapid, lethal,
pinpoint precision strike capability with minimal collateral damage.
AeroVironment's electric transportation solutions include a
comprehensive suite of electric
vehicle (EV) charging systems, installation and data services for
consumers, automakers, utilities and government agencies, power
cycling and test systems for EV developers and industrial
electric vehicle charging systems for commercial fleets. More
information about AeroVironment is available at www.avinc.com.
About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation
(SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nev., is one of America's fastest
growing private companies based on its significant expansion and
reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in
electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite,
aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. Under the leadership
of CEO Fatih
Ozmen and President Eren
Ozmen, SNC employs over 2,500 people in 30 locations in 16 states.
SNC's six unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge
solutions to SNC's dynamic customer base.
SNC is also the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States.
Over the last 30 years under the Ozmen's leadership, SNC has remained
focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified
technologies to meet their needs and has a strong and proven track
record of success. The company continues to focus its growth on the
commercial sector through internal advancements and outside
acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable
energy, telemedicine,
nanotechnology, cyber
and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.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; our
reliance on sales to the U.S. government; changes in the timing and/or
amount of government spending; changes in the supply and/or demand
and/or prices for our products and services; 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, including our most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q. 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.
AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin, +1-626-357-9983
pr@avinc.com
or
For
AeroVironment, Inc.
Mark Boyer, +1-310-229-5956
mark@boyersyndicate.com
Source: AeroVironment
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