AeroVironment has introduced its lightweight and man-portable Shrike VTOL (vertical take off and landing) unmanned aircraft system. In August 2008 AeroVironment announced the receipt of a contract from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to develop a portable, stealthy, persistent perch and stare (SP2S) unmanned aircraft system. Shrike VTOL represents the conclusion of this development effort.

“With more than four years of customer funding behind it, our new Shrike VTOL unmanned aircraft system is designed to address the need for a small, light-weight hovering aircraft that delivers unique surveillance and intelligence capability not provided by current solutions.

“Not only does Shrike VTOL hover for more than 40 minutes with a high resolution video camera, but its innovative design also allows for the transmission of several hours of live video as a remotely emplaced perch and stare sensor,” said Tom Herring, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AeroVironment’s UAS business segment.

“This new solution adds an important set of new capabilities to our existing and battleproven family of small unmanned aircraft systems that are saving lives in theatre today.”