AeroVironment (AV), of Monrovia, Calif., received a firm-fixed-price contract delivery order valued at $11.5 million for new digital Puma All Environment (AE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), initial spares packages and training services. The items were procured under the existing U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract.Deliveries are scheduled to be completed over the next several months.
“Puma is already making a difference in the field. Our customers cite the quality of its imagery and its overall usefulness, which they say make Puma instrumental in saving lives,” said Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “We see more opportunities ahead for Puma to help our customers where and when they need it.”
USSOCOM selected the Puma UAS in 2008 for its AECV program. Each Puma system consists of three air vehicles and two ground control systems. The air vehicle carries an integrated electro-optical and an infrared gimbaled video payload. The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered and has a flight endurance of two hours.