Sat, Jan 05, 2008
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.
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