AeroVironment Receives $16.5 Million of Funding from U.S. Army for RQ-11B Raven Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Miniature Gimbaled Payload
-
Total projected value of contract action is
$65.9 million ;$32.3 million in funding for orders received to date - Payload integrates an electro-optical and infrared video sensor for improved tracking capabilities
- Modular payload compatible with existing Raven® systems
Raven Gimbal Launch (Photo: Business Wire)
The overall contract action includes RQ-11B
Raven systems, new miniature gimbaled payloads and initial spares
packages and is funded from the Army's fiscal 2012 procurement budget.
Delivery of systems, spares and payloads is scheduled for completion by
Weighing 450 grams, the ruggedized, multi-axis Mantis i23 payload for the Raven system houses an electro-optical and infrared thermal video sensor in addition to a laser illuminator. The single payload replaces two separate sensor payloads on the Raven air vehicle, delivering daytime and nighttime capabilities from a single package.
"The Army is quickly and easily integrating the new miniature gimbaled
payload into the Raven systems because of its reliability in providing
superior imagery and tracking capability in harsh environments," said
The RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft system is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery wirelessly to a portable ground control station 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.
About AeroVironment's Family of Small UAS
RQ-11B
Raven®, Wasp
AE™, RQ-20A
Puma™ 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.
The Qube™
small UAS is tailored to law enforcement, first response and other
public safety missions. Small enough to fit easily in the trunk of a
car, the
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