ADELAIDE, Australia, At Land Forces 2016, Sept. 6, 2016 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced it is teaming with Australia-based XTEK, Sentient Vision and General Dynamics (GD) Mediaware to deliver AeroVironment’s Family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems to the Australian market. The team will offer the AeroVironment Wasp AE Micro Air Vehicle, designated as the RQ-12A by the U.S. Department of Defense, to the Australian Armed Forces.
“Teaming with XTEK, Sentient and General Dynamics Mediaware for delivery and sustainment is key to ensuring our customer’s success as its forces rely on the advanced, versatile and life-saving capabilities of our Wasp AE systems to proceed with certainty,” said Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of AeroVironment’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment.
“Wasp AE is an all-environment small unmanned aircraft system designed for reliable and effective operation in real-world environments,” said Flittie. "It enhances our fully digital family of small unmanned aircraft systems and incorporates the advanced capabilities of Puma AE™ and Raven® into a smaller, lighter and more portable package for rapid deployment and minimal logistics support.”
Each Wasp AE system consists of two air vehicles and one ground control system (GCS). “It delivers – in a man-packable asset – exceptional features of superior imagery, increased endurance, encrypted video and ease of use that is inherent in all AeroVironment UAS solutions,” Flittie said.
The 2.8-pound (1.3 kilograms) MAV has a 29-inch wingspan and is designed for ground and water landing, making it suitable for both land and maritime missions. It carries interchangeable payload modules and incorporates the smallest of AeroVironment's Mantis™ suite of miniature gimbaled payloads, the 275 gram Mantis i22 AE, giving operators both color and infrared video imagery from a single sensor package.
Operating virtually undetected, Wasp AE’s mechanically stabilized EO/IR gimbal payload transmits advanced imagery, even in windy conditions, for mission effectiveness. It also features hand-launch capabilities, with a deep-stall landing in confined areas on land or water. It further can be operated manually or programmed for autonomous operation using the system’s advanced avionics and precise GPS navigation.
Wasp AE is operated from AeroVironment’s time-tested and proven GCS with a communications range of 5 km and flight endurance of 50 minutes. AeroVironment’s common GCS interfaces with all of its tactical ISR air vehicles reducing the level of training required and decreasing the time and cost involved.
About AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides customers with more actionable intelligence so they can proceed with certainty. Based in California, AeroVironment is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems, tactical missile systems and electric vehicle charging and test systems, and serves militaries, government agencies, businesses and consumers. For more information visit www.avinc.com.
About XTEK Limited
XTEK Limited is a leading company in the Australian Homeland Security Market. XTEK’s knowledge and expertise is focused on the delivery of protection and sustainment solutions for the government, law enforcement, military and commercial sectors. For more information, visit the XTEK website at www.xtek.net.
About Sentient
Sentient Vision Systems develops and deploys computer vision solutions for defense and civil applications. Since 1999 Sentient has specialized in video analytics with a primary focus on the development of automated detection software for full motion video. Sentient’s solutions enhance the performance of EO/IR operations for many agencies and forces worldwide. For more information, visit www.sentientvision.com.