A technology solutions provider for advanced electric transportations systems, AeroVironment has announced that the US Air Force has placed an order worth $6,874,175. AeroVironment will deliver small unmanned aircraft systems, the Raven along with the required spares packages scheduled for delivery in the next few months.
The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for "over the hill" and "around the corner" reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. Credit: Business Wire
The Raven systems will be deployed by the Air Force Security Forces to improve the situational awareness and enhance security across bases throughout the globe. The initial order also includes training systems to enable Air Force personnel to support the deployment of the Raven systems.
The small Raven unmanned aircraft weighs only 4.2 lbs and features a sensor platform that provides real-time video imagery round the clock for target acquisition and surveillance. The US armed forces have extensively used the small digital Raven systems for force protection, route reconnaissance, base security and mission planning. The Raven system consists of two ground control stations, three aircrafts and spares.
The small unmanned aircraft systems consist of the Puma, Wasp, Shrike VTOL and Raven systems. A warfighter is provided with increased capability and the logistics operation of the aircraft systems ensures operational readiness. The range of AeroVironment’s unmanned aircraft systems is operated using a central ground control system.
The Senior Vice President and General Manager- Unmanned Aircraft Systems of AeroVironment, Tom Herring stated that the aerial video capture in real-time using unmanned aircraft systems is of great assistance to warfighters and can also be used by security forces to gain advantage at the US Air Force bases. Herring also added that the Raven, Wasp and Puma systems are available at a fraction of the price of larger unmanned aircraft systems and provide situational awareness to the troops directly thus allowing them to save more lives by operating more effectively.