AeroVironment has announced that the U.S. Army has ordered additional RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and associated services for its fiscal year 2009 requirements by the exercise of an option under an existing contract.

Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, two ground control stations, and spares. The aggregate order value is $41.7 million and is fully funded.

The award was released under the existing U.S. Army joint small UAS program of record for AV's Raven system and will provide systems, spares and services for the Army and Marine Corps.

This program allows for contract additions from the Army, Marine Corps, Special Operations Command and other U.S. military services. The items and services provided under this award on this multi-year contract are scheduled to be delivered over the next 12 months.

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

"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."

AV's Raven system 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. U.S. and allied armed forces use Ravens extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection.

In addition to the Raven system, AV's small UAS include Puma AE and Wasp, which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV's hand-held ground control station. Each aircraft in AV's family of small UAS is interoperable and tailored to address a variety of operational user needs.

AV's UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered more than 11,000 small unmanned aircraft to date. International purchasers of Raven systems include Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain.