AeroVironment receives Middle East order
AeroVironment has received a $44.5 million contract from an unnamed country in the Middle East to supply its Puma II AE small UAS equipped with Mantis i45 sensor, the company announced on 6 March.
The Mantis i45 EO/IR gimbal sensor suite delivers improved imaging to give operators better ISR capabilities at longer ranges. Its high-resolution images also support in target analysis, positive identification and enables operators to identify threats to friendly forces more effectively.
Capable of ground and water landings, the rugged, portable and fully waterproof Puma AE’s enhanced precision navigation system with secondary GPS provides optimal positional accuracy. AeroVironment’s common ground control system allows the operator to control the aircraft manually or programme it for GPS-based autonomous navigation.
Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of AeroVironment’s UAS business segment, said: ‘This contract for the ground forces of a Middle East regional power, and our largest international order to date, reflects AeroVironment’s continually growing international customer base and our ongoing commitment to equipping more allied forces with the innovative UAS solutions needed to ensure successful missions in a wide range of operations.'
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