AeroVironment, Inc. has announced it received a new $11,095,872 costplus-fixed-fee sole source contract award on March 1, 2012 from the United States Army. The order comprises Army, Marine Corps and Foreign Military Sales contractor logistics support for Raven systems. The logistics support services are scheduled to be delivered through February 28, 2013.

“AeroVironment’s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness,” said Tom Herring, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “The Raven system continues to be an important asset for US and allied armed forces.”

The RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft system comprises 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. US 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.

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 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.