AeroVironment will provide an allied nation in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility with its RQ-20B Puma AE II small UAS, training and support, after receiving a $3,228,856 firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

The anticipated delivery date of this technology and services is by March 30, 2019.

“The vast, diverse landscape of the INDOPACOM area of operation demands small unmanned aircraft systems that can support ground, riverine and maritime operations effectively,” explains Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of AeroVironment’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems business.

“The combat-proven Puma has demonstrated its unique effectiveness in a wide range of operating environments, from mountains to deserts, from the Arctic to Antarctica, on land and on the open ocean, delivering actionable intelligence to help customers proceed with certainty.”

According to AeroVironment, the majority of the U.S. DoD's inventory of UAS is made up of AeroVironment’s family of small UAS. AeroVironment notes that its international customer base now stands at more than 45 allied governments.

“This contract is a good example of the additional procurement potential among our international customers,” Flittie says.

Designed for land-based and maritime operations, AeroVironment's Puma UAS can land in water or on the ground. The all-environment Puma, equipped with its Mantis i45 sensor suite, provides operators with extended flight time, as well as a “level of imaging capability never before available in the small UAS class,” AeroVironment says.