AeroVironment contract for Army Ravens

MONROVIA, Calif., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- California-based AeroVironment Inc. announced it has been contracted to support the U.S. Army's Raven small unmanned aircraft systems.

AV is an unmanned aircraft systems contractor for the Defense Department. The company has produced more than 6,000 UAS, including Raven and the Puma among others.

Under the $16.4 million contract AV will provide logistics services for the Raven, a real-time video imagery reconnaissance and surveillance unmanned aircraft system. Raven is currently being used in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom military operations.

AV will be expected to maintain, refurbish and repair the systems among other logistics required by the Raven.

“This order reflects the Army’s desire to have the latest, most capable small UAS in service supporting troops on the ground,” said John Grabowsky, AV’s executive vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems, in a statement. “The latest configuration of AV’s Raven enables tactical units to operate even more effectively and efficiently, ultimately helping to save lives.”

Military officials say the Raven has become the U.S. Army, Special Operations Command and Marine Corps UAS top selection. The U.S. Army has flown AV’s Ravens for tens of thousands of hours during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.