WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Honeywell has placed an order for 55 airframes for Micro Air Vehicles, a flying surveillance drone that measures a diminutive 13 inches in diameter.
The tiny aircraft known as MAVs are designed to fit in a soldier's rucksack and can be launched whenever the unit commander wants to see what lies over the next ridge or behind a suspicious-looking building.
The $1.7 million order announced Thursday went to AAI Corp., a Maryland firm that specializes in the design and manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles.
"The MAV can hover and stare as well as fly at altitudes between sea level and 10,000 feet functioning primarily as a scout in urban environments and difficult mountainous terrain," said AAI Vice President Steve Reid. "MAV will keep soldiers out of harm's way by providing them essential tactical information to successfully execute their mission."
The contract is an extension of a current deal into late 2006 and will incorporate AAI's latest design tweaks.
The MAV flies much like a very small helicopter, using a fan duct and a gasoline engine powerful enough to enable the aircraft to both hover and reach straightaway speeds of 50 miles per hour.
Honeywell provides the flight management subsystem and the electronic sensors that are the eyes of the vehicle.
