United States Navy Deploying Newly Designated RQ-20B AeroVironment Puma AE with Precision Recovery System Aboard Guided Missi...
August 11 2016 - 9:10AM
Business Wire
- AeroVironment’s Precision Recovery
System enables block 2 Puma AE to operate from a wide variety of
vessels for rapid response reconnaissance
- Hand launched from the ship, Puma AE
autonomously guides itself into a net on the flight deck after
mission completion
- ISR data from Puma AE streams directly
into the ship’s command and control system and the U.S. Navy’s
communications network
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced the United
States Navy has tested and deployed the RQ-20B Puma™ small unmanned
aircraft system (UAS) aboard a Flight I Guided Missile Destroyer
(DDG Class). Some of these exercises included the use of
AeroVironment’s fully autonomous system to recover the aircraft
aboard a ship. The US Navy issued a report on August 3 from the
Arabian Gulf describing how Puma AE is also being utilized (see “US
Ships Utilize Small Eye in the Sky”) on Navy Patrol Craft.
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An operator launches the RQ-20B
AeroVironment Puma AE System from the USS Stout during precision
recovery system verification flights conducted by the U.S. Navy
(Photo: Business Wire)
Following completion of a Puma AE intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance mission, the AeroVironment Precision Recovery System
provides for the autonomous on-board recovery of the aircraft,
without interrupting the ship’s operations. Because the Puma AE is
also designed to land and float in water, operators can choose to
recover it from the ocean, should mission requirements dictate.
The AeroVironment Precision Recovery System occupies a small
footprint and can be managed and operated by members of a ship’s
crew, as opposed to requiring external contractors. It is
transported in tactical packaging that can be hand-carried aboard
and readily transferred from one ship to another.
“Our Precision Recovery System expands the capability of Puma AE
to support maritime operations. This solution also builds on
AeroVironment’s extensive operational experience with small UAS to
provide the Navy with a low-cost, hand-launched capability
optimized for contested environments,” said Kirk Flittie, vice
president and general manager of AeroVironment’s Unmanned Aircraft
Systems business segment. “Puma AE’s ability to operate from a wide
variety of surface vessels ensures rapid response reconnaissance
capabilities that help our customers operate more safely and
effectively and proceed with certainty.”
Puma AE can be launched and recovered very quickly. The UAS
features a gimbaled payload that delivers high quality
electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) imagery and AeroVironment’s
secure Digital Data Link (DDL). These features improve situational
awareness for the ship and also for boat crews who carry their own
remote video terminal (“Pocket DDL”) during approach and assist or
other missions.
AeroVironment developed the Puma AE system to compete for, and
win, a 2008 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
competitive program of record and subsequently supplied the system
to the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Coastal Riverine
Forces, the US Army for convoy and ground troop support and the US
Marine Corps. Most recently, the Navy procured Puma AE systems for
use aboard Patrol Craft and also deployed them aboard a US Navy
Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF) ship in support of counter
illicit trafficking operations in the Caribbean. The Puma AE is
also employed by several international partners.
The United States Department of Defense recently established the
designation RQ-20B for the block 2 Puma AE small UAS. The block 2
Puma AE system includes a more powerful and lighter propulsion
system, lighter and stronger airframe, long endurance battery,
precision inertial navigation system and an improved user
interface. The new, all environment Mantis i45 gimbal sensor suite
for Puma AE delivers a dramatic leap in small UAS image resolution
and ISR capability and will be available for ordering in
September.
About AeroVironment Small UAS
RQ-11B Raven®, RQ-12 Wasp®, RQ-20A and B 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 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, fixed installations, naval vessels 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 (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides customers with more
actionable intelligence so they can proceed with certainty. Based
in California, AeroVironment is a global leader in unmanned
aircraft systems, tactical missile systems and electric vehicle
charging and test systems, and serves militaries, government
agencies, businesses and consumers. For more information visit
www.avinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute
"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
obtain additional contracts; our reliance on sales to the U.S.
government; changes in the timing and/or amount of government
spending; changes in the supply and/or demand and/or prices for our
products and services; changes in the regulatory environment; the
activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we
operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to
develop new products or integrate new technology with current
products; and general economic and business conditions in the
United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and
description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on
10-Q. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160811005571/en/
AeroVironment, Inc.Steven Gitlin, +1 (626)
357-9983pr@avinc.comorFor AeroVironment, Inc.Mark Boyer, +1 (310)
229-5956mark@boyersyndicate.com
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