USMC orders RQ-11B Raven SUAS
AeroVironment has announced that it has received an order from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for the RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS). Part of an existing US Army contract, the firm fixed-price order is valued at $3,653,519, and was announced 30 April, 2012.
Under the contract, AeroVironment will provide the RQ-11B Raven SUAS, as well as initial spares packages. The order was placed 15 March, 2012; and was scheduled for delivery by 17 April, 2012.
The RQ-11B Raven UAV is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides ‘over the hill’ and ‘around the corner’ reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. It provides day and night, real-time video imagery wirelessly to a portable ground control station, and greatly enhances the situational awareness of deployed forces.
The US armed forces use Raven systems extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection. Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, two ground control stations and spares.
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