AeroVironment's Wasp III Micro Vehicle Selected By USAF

AeroVironment, Inc. announced this week the United States Air Force BATMAV (Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle) program has received Milestone C approval, and authorization for full rate production.

The company tells ANN the BATMAV program achieved both milestones under the rigors of the United States Department of Defense 5000 Acquisition process in just over 11 months from contract award. The Air Force selected AV’s Wasp III as the micro air vehicle (MAV) for its BATMAV Program in December 2006.

"Achieving full rate production in just 11 months from contract award reflects our team’s efforts, working closely with our customers, to satisfy program requirements quickly and efficiently," said John Grabowsky, executive vice president and general manager, AV Unmanned Aircraft Systems. "The rapid achievement of full rate production means that we can now produce our Wasp III systems in higher volumes so that our customers can deploy them to the front-line units who need them."

With a wingspan of 29 inches and weighing only one pound, the Wasp III carries interchangeable targeting payload modules, including an infrared camera, along with two integrated color cameras that transmit streaming video directly to the hand-held ground controller for display on an integrated monitor.

AeroVironment says the Wasp III is the first micro air vehicle to be adopted by the US armed forces in support of a program of record. Its portability and reliability are being demonstrated through continuing evaluation in forward locations.

In November 2007 the US Marine Corps awarded AV a $19.3 million contract for Wasp III MAV systems under the Air Force BATMAV Contract. The Marines plan to deploy Wasp at the Platoon level and use it as a complement to their Raven small UAS systems, which they currently deploy at the company and battalion levels.

FMI: www.avinc.com, www.af.mil