Drone maker AeroVironment Inc. reported Tuesday that it swung to a profit in its latest quarter as revenue jumped 23% driven by strong sales of its unmanned aircraft systems.

AeroVironment said that during its fiscal second-quarter, sales in its unmanned-aircraft-systems segment—which accounts for some 87% of revenue—climbed 31.4%, offsetting a 15% fall in its efficient-energy-systems branch.

The company also reported a climb of 15 percentage points in gross margin as a percentage of revenue to 49%.

AeroVironment makes drones and rechargeable-battery technology for electric vehicles. The company, founded in 1981, traces its roots to the Gossamer Condor, the first human-powered airplane developed by company founder Paul MacCready.

Overall, the company posted a profit of $4.4 million, or 19 cents a share, up from a loss of $2.9 million, or 13 cents a share, a year earlier.

Revenue climbed 23% to $64.7 million.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters forecast per-share losses of 9 cents a share on revenue of $58 million.

The use of drones has been at the center of debate over air safety, privacy and regulation of U.S. skies. In February, the Federal Aviation Administration released provisions on small unmanned aircrafts weighing less than 55 pounds.

The provisions by the FAA require commercial drone operators to pass an approval process. Once approved, the safety requirements by the FAA limits commercial drone flights to below 500 feet, during daylight hours and within an operator's line of sight.

Write to Ezequiel Minaya at ezequiel.minaya@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 08, 2015 17:35 ET (22:35 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2015 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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