AeroVironment to continue expansion of Blackwing UAS program under $2.5 million contract
NewsOctober 11, 2017
WASHINGTON. At Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting and exposition, AeroVironment, Inc. officials announced the receipt of a contract award from the U.S. Navy on September 29, 2017 for continuation and expansion of its Blackwing small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) program.
The contract includes orders for multiple Blackwing vehicles, sensor payloads and refurbishment kits for a total value of $2.5 million. The initial set of vehicles are anticipated for delivery by May 2018, and final delivery anticipated by November 2018.
Blackwing is a small, tube-launched unmanned aircraft that employs an advanced, miniature electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) payload, integrated inertial/ GPS autopilot system and secure Digital Data Link (DDL), all packaged into a vehicle that launches from under the surface of the sea, from manned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).
The Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) awarded this contract to AeroVironment on a sole source basis in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) guidelines.
