AeroVironment to support Marine platoons

MONROVIA, Calif., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps announced it has contracted California-based AeroVironment Inc. for battlefield air targeting micro air vehicle systems.

AV is an unmanned aircraft systems developer for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military providing real-time airborne reconnaissance and surveillance products. Under the $19.3 million in BATMAV U.S. Marine Corps orders, AV will provide two Wasp III micro air vehicles and the company's Advanced Battery Charger along with spares and support services.

Company officials say the Wasp III is capable of transmitting streaming video directly to the handheld ground controller for display from its one infrared and two color cameras. The Wasp is relatively small at a wingspan of 29 inches and a weight of 1 pound.

"The small size and light weight of Wasp make it ideally suited for deployment directly to platoons, where flexibility, portability and reliability are critically important," U.S. Marine Corps Maj. James Roudebush, tier I UAV program manager, PMA-263, said in a statement.

"We have been evaluating Wasp for some time, and believe that it offers a unique new capability to support our Marines' missions around the world. These Wasp systems, like the Ravens and Dragon Eyes, help our teams operate more successfully and ultimately help protect their lives."

Officials say the Wasp III systems will be used to support deployment at the platoon level.

"The planned deployment of Wasp to the platoon level reflects its value to the war fighter," said John Grabowsky, AV executive vice president and general manager. "Just as our Raven has become the small UAS solution in support of programs for the Army, Marines, Special Operations and Air Force, we believe Wasp III to be the emerging micro UAS solution."