Article Posted on : - Dec 29, 2010

Raven UAS launch. Photo: AeroVironment.

MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA (BNS): US armed forces has awarded a $46.2 million worth additional contract to AeroVironment for the procurement of 123 new digital Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and initial spares packages as well as 186 digital retrofit kits for the US Marine Corps. The order also includes 339 digital retrofit kits for the US Army.

The Raven system and retrofit order represents the remainder of the funds appropriated for RQ-11B Raven system procurement in the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in December 2009.

"Raven unmanned systems provide situational awareness directly to our warfighters, increasing mission effectiveness and safety. They have proven their value and reliability to military services across the US Department of Defense," Tom Herring, AV senior vice president and general manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, was quoted as saying in the company news release.

The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery 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.

International purchasers of Raven systems include Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Norway.