AeroVironment Inc. [AVAV] recently said the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has selected Puma AE as its All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) for its Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) requirement under a contract with a potential total of $200 million.
The one-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with four one-year options provides for the purchase of aircraft, ground control systems, spares, repairs and training under a combination firm fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost reimbursable arrangement. The initial delivery order is valued at $6 million and is fully funded.
The hand-launched Puma AE lands near-vertically on both land and water and is equipped with a day- and night-capable, waterproof sensor package that provides image tracking, image stabilization and high-image quality.
Puma AE systems incorporate the same hand-held Ground Control Unit used by the Defense Department and allied military customers to control Raven and Wasp systems. Ship-based use of Puma AE requires no modification to naval vessels, enabling easy integration into maritime operations.
The AECV program represents the fourth DoD full and open competition for a small UAS program of record, and the fourth such competition won by AeroVironment (AV).
“AV responded to a USSOCOM requirement for a hand-launched UAS. We are pleased to be chosen to deliver these capabilities into the hands of warfighters with a new, more capable third generation version of our Puma,” John Grabowsky, AV executive vice president and general manager of unmanned aircraft systems, said in a statment. “Puma AE joins Raven and Wasp in AV’s product portfolio, delivering a powerful new solution for land and ship-based, over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.”
U.S. armed forces including the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and SOCOM, as well as international forces such as those of Italy, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands, use AV’s hand-launched UAS for missions that include base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning, battle damage assessment and force protection.
The Army has reported that Army Raven UAS were flown for approximately 150,000 combat hours in 2007.