AeroVironment, Inc. has received a $7,298,530 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract from the United States Army.

This contract establishes a not-to-exceed amount for digital Puma All Environment (AE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) contractor logistics support services in support of a Joint Urgent Operational Need Statement.

The services are scheduled to be provided within the next 12 months.

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) selected the Puma UAS in 2008 for its AECV program after a full and open competition, the fourth U.S. Department of Defense competition for programs of record involving small UAS and the fourth such competition won by AeroVironment. Each Puma system consists of three air vehicles and two ground control systems.

The air vehicle carries an integrated electro-optical and infrared gimbaled video camera, is designed for enhanced survivability in land and maritime environments, and can operate effectively in foul weather and over rugged terrain.

Its quiet operation, stabilized imagery and precision landing capability make Puma systems easy to operate and recover. The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered and has a flight endurance of two hours.

Raven, Wasp, 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, security personnel and public safety professionals.

AeroVironment's UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness.

AeroVironment has delivered thousands of new and replacement small unmanned air vehicles. International purchasers of AeroVironment's small UAS include the armed forces of Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Norway, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Australia.