AeroVironment to supply Australian Defence Force with its Wasp AE UAS

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On July 25, AeroVironment, Inc. participated in a signing ceremony for the formal execution of contracts to deliver its Wasp AE UAS to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), starting on July 1, 2018.

​The UAS will be delivered over a three-year period, and AeroVironment is enlisting the help of several Australian partners, including XTEK, General Dynamics Mediaware and Sentient Vision, to provide the UAS.

To serve the immediate needs of ADF, and expand AeroVironment’s global support capabilities, XTEK and AeroVironment will provide local maintenance, training and field support.

To meet the needs of ADF and the Australian industry, the Wasp AE will be modified with Australian content.

“This collaboration reflects the unwavering commitment of all four companies and the ADF to support and protect the dedicated members of the Australian armed forces with the best UAS capabilities available in the world today – to help them proceed with certainty and ensure successful missions,” says David Sharpin, vice-president of AeroVironment's Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) business unit.

Weighing less than three pounds, the Wasp AE includes a variety of features such as superior imagery, increased endurance, encrypted video and ease of use. The UAS, which is launched by hand, can land on the ground or in fresh or salt water.

AeroVironment says that the Wasp AE UAS is ideal for infantry, littoral and maritime reconnaissance operations, thanks to its portability and flexibility.