US Army acquires Raven UAV for security forces assistance brigades

AeroVironment has received a $45.2 million contract to provide the RQ-11B Raven UAV for the United States Army’s Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB).

The award includes an initial spares package, and delivery is expected to take place in January 2020. 

The SFAB are specialised units, with a core mission to conduct training, advise, assist and accompany operations with allied and partner nations.

‘Raven is the most widely deployed small unmanned aircraft system in the United States Department of Defense's fleet,’ Rick Pedigo, vice president for sales and business development at AeroVironment, said. 

‘Our family of small unmanned aircraft systems supports all US military services and more than 45 allied nations.  Every day, AeroVironment small UAS provide the actionable intelligence our customers need to proceed with certainty.’

AeroVironment's Raven is a man-portable, hand-launched small unmanned aircraft system designed for land-based operations. 

First adopted by the US Army in 2005, Raven is now used by more than 25 countries, and weighing some 4lb with a wingspan of 4.5ft and with a flying range of 10km, AeroVironment says it is the most prolific small unmanned aircraft system deployed across the US DoD.  

Raven provides operators with real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, delivering colour or infrared video and still imagery to the operator via a hand-held ground control unit as well as to remote viewing stations, and uses a GPS system for pre-programmed or manual navigation.