AeroVironment Completes Development and Begins Production of Switchblade Tactical Missile System Upgrade
April 28 2016 - 9:10AM
Business Wire
- New digital Switchblade, Block 10C,
incorporates AeroVironment Digital Data Link for enhanced
communication security and other capabilities
- Continues evolution of proven
Switchblade system to address U.S. Army Lethal Miniature Aerial
Missile System (LMAMS) capability
- Available for fielding this Spring
At Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit – AeroVironment,
Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced it has developed a block
upgrade, designated Block 10C, to its already fielded Switchblade™
Tactical Missile system. The Digital Data Link (DDL) incorporated
into Block 10C provides a stable and secure encrypted communication
link that enables more efficient use of existing frequency bands
and significantly reduces the likelihood of signal interception.
Frequency efficiency and secure communications are critical to
warfighters in today’s complex operational environment.
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AeroVironment begins production of Block
10C digital Switchblade Tactical Missile System (Photo: Business
Wire)
The Block 10C upgrade also enables the concurrent operation of
multiple Switchblade systems in the same vicinity without signal
conflict, provides the opportunity to extend operational ranges
significantly using another DDL arbiter, such as AeroVironment’s
Puma AE™ unmanned aircraft system, and facilitates the automatic
communication of mission plans from one AeroVironment unmanned
aircraft system to a Switchblade, also known as sensor to shooter
operations.
Bill Nichols of the U.S. Army PEO Missiles and Space Close
Combat Weapons Systems (CCWS) Program office, which manages
Switchblade, said, “Switchblade Block 10C will increase the
capabilities of the warfighter in the field through encrypted
operation and improved Army-wide frequency de-confliction and
management.”
“The new Switchblade Block 10C is the result of close
collaboration between our U.S. Army customer and the AeroVironment
team,” said Kirk Flittie, AeroVironment vice president and general
manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “Working
with the Army and other users, we continue to evolve and expand the
capabilities of the Switchblade tactical missile system to provide
troops with the most reliable and effective force protection
solution possible. We are already working on future upgrades to
this important capability to give our forces an even greater
advantage on the battlefield.”
AeroVironment and its strategic teammate for advanced warheads,
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), will work together to produce and deliver
the systems.
About AeroVironment Switchblade Tactical Missile
System
The Switchblade™ tactical missile system, developed and produced
by AeroVironment, enables the infantry squad with increased
lethality, reach and force protection through its rapid deployment,
direct fire and collateral damage avoidance capabilities.
Switchblade was first fielded in 2011 under a series of U.S. Army
urgent needs requiring a portable weapons system capable of
engaging targets beyond line of sight, in defilade, on rooftops,
fleeting targets, those in concealed locations and in complex areas
of operation requiring minimal collateral damage for the dismounted
operator. Switchblade provides day and night operation, loitering
capability and wave off to minimize collateral damage. Since the
initial 2011 award, AeroVironment has produced more than 1,500
Switchblade missile bodies for various customers in both integrated
warhead and training configurations.
About AeroVironment Small UAS
RQ-11B Raven®, RQ-12 Wasp®, 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. AeroVironment provides logistics
services worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of
operational readiness and provides mission services for customers
requiring only the information its small UAS produce. AeroVironment
has delivered thousands of new and replacement small unmanned air
vehicles to customers within the United States and to more than 30
international governments.
About AeroVironment
AeroVironment is a technology solutions provider that designs,
develops, produces, supports and operates an advanced portfolio of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and electric transportation
solutions. The company’s electric-powered, hand-launched unmanned
aircraft systems generate and process data to deliver powerful
insight, on demand, to people and enterprises engaged in military,
public safety and commercial activities around the world. More
information about AeroVironment is available at www.avinc.com.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs
approximately 12,000 people in 18 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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"forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made
on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions
that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited
to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors
outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and
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AeroVironment, Inc.Steven Gitlin+1 (626)
357-9983pr@avinc.comorFor AeroVironment, Inc.Mark Boyer+1 (310)
229-5956mark@boyersyndicate.com
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