Army orders additional small UAS from AV

MONROVIA, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has exercised a contract option for the delivery of additional small unmanned aircraft systems from AeroVironment Inc.

California-based AV has received orders from the Army for delivery of its RQ-11B Raven small UAS. The order is a contract option from an Army joint small UAS program worth a total of $41.7 million for AV.

The RQ-11B Raven, widely deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a 4.2-pound UAS that offers troops operating in urban combat zones advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for improved situational awareness.

"We are pleased to support the Army and Marine Corps' ongoing, multiyear programs of record for small UAS as they continue to deploy this valuable capability throughout their force structures," John Grabowsky, AV executive vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems, said in a statement.

"We remain committed to ensuring that wherever U.S. ground forces operate, our Raven systems reliably help them perform their missions more effectively and more safely."