AeroVironment Successfully Demonstrates Maritime Sensor-To-Shooter Capability with Puma 3 AE and Switchblade 300 at NATO REP(MUS) 21 Experimentation Exercise

Rhea-AI Summary

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) successfully demonstrated the Puma 3 AE unmanned aircraft and Switchblade 300 missile systems during NATO’s REP(MUS) 21 exercise in Portugal. This marked the first cross-domain, multi-national sensor-to-shooter (S2S) demonstration, showcasing interoperability between the U.S. and U.K. systems. The exercise validated advanced command and control systems and introduced the Precision Recovery System (PRS) for autonomous recovery of the Puma 3 AE from a Navy ship. This demonstration is a significant step forward for unmanned systems and military operations.

Positive

• Successful cross-domain S2S demonstration enhances military operational capabilities.
• Showcased advanced interoperability between U.S. and U.K. unmanned systems.
• Introduced PRS for autonomous recovery of unmanned aircraft, improving operational efficiency.

Negative

• None.

• Experimentation was part of NATO REP(MUS) 21 U.S./U.K. Interoperability to Interchangeability (I2I) initiatives using uncrewed systems
• First successful cross-domain, multi-national and I2I-enabled maritime sensor-to-shooter (S2S) demonstration of Puma 3 AE small unmanned aircraft system and Switchblade 300 tactical missile system
• Demonstrated the interoperability potential of multiple Command and Control Systems/Common Control Systems (CCS) to pass missions, C2 authority, and ISR/targeting data, enabling U.S. and U.K. common mission planning and execution systems in coordinated mission profiles
• International debut of the Precision Recovery System (PRS), which supported Puma 3 AE’s continuous mission taskings with a quick turnaround recover/launch capability using an automated net landing capability on an underway U.S. Navy ship

 

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the successful maritime demonstration of a Puma™ 3 AE small unmanned aircraft system and Switchblade® 300 tactical missile system sensor-to-shooter (S2S) capability as part of NATO REP(MUS) 21, Europe’s largest maritime unmanned systems operational experimentation exercise, hosted at the Portuguese Navy Centre for Operational Experimentation held in Troia, Portugal in September. The experimentation was part of a United States/United Kingdom Interoperability to Interchangeability (I2I) initiative using unmanned/uncrewed systems.

A key component of the exercise was demonstrating the interoperability of multiple U.S./U.K. control system capabilities to facilitate the transfer through the Puma 3 AE comm relay connection of tactical control and planning tasks of interchangeable, cross-domain assets. This successful demonstration was the result of combined and coordinated efforts of coalition and industry partnerships including the Naval Information Warfare Center’s C-SCAPE Common Control System (CCS), the Naval Undersea Warfare Center’s CaSHMI system, U.K. Ministry of Defense’s MAPLE command and control system, AeroVironment’s Crysalis™ ground control system (GCS) connected to the varied control systems utilizing a new STANAG 4586 Level 4 interface, unmanned/uncrewed surface vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles and manned surface ships from additional NATO allies. The U.S. delegation was led by NAVSEA’s Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants.

Launched from the USNS Carson City, Puma 3 AE UAS served as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and targeting asset during the S2S exercise. Post launch, control of the Puma 3 AE was transferred to C-SCAPE, which was acting as the CCS on the USNS Carson City for this mission segment. Using its high-resolution Mantis i45 payload, the Puma 3 AE was used by military operators from the Maritime Operations Center (MOC), located in Troia, to positively identify the moving exercise target of interest. The target location was then digitally transferred from Puma 3 AE to a Switchblade 300 via S2S prior to its launch. The S2S functionality was witnessed by U.S. Navy personnel only.

As a demonstration of interchangeability, Switchblade 300 was then launched from a U.K. unmanned/uncrewed surface vessel (USV), the Maritime Autonomy Demonstrator for Operational eXperimentation (MADFOX), and automatically flew to the fast-moving target using the coordinates provided. Once the target was in the field of view of Switchblade 300’s optical sensors, the Switchblade 300 mission operator confirmed the target and engaged. During final target approach, Switchblade 300 was waved off just prior to actual engagement of the exercise target to effectively display its patented wave-off capability. Once the exercise was completed, the Puma 3 AE was autonomously recovered back onboard the USNS Carson City via the Precision Recovery System (PRS) demonstrator while the ship remained underway and on course.

“The system launch from MADFOX was a U.K. first, demonstrating the potential of USVs for lethal and other payloads; crucially, the whole serial was commanded, enabled and facilitated using information provided by uncrewed systems. It is a significant step for I2I, the sensor-to-shooter capability and interoperability,” said Commander Antony Crabb, Royal Navy, NavyX Experimentation Team Leader.

“This demonstration proved AeroVironment’s sensor-to-shooter solution dramatically elevates operator situational awareness, reduces engagement timelines and reduces the chances of mis-targeting,” said Charles Dean, AeroVironment vice president for global business development and sales of UAS. “It also deemed relaying missions and surveillance data between U.K. and U.S. planning systems as effective and successful and demonstrated the maturity of Puma 3 AE’s capabilities for broad naval adoption.”

Dean added, “Particularly, the new STANAG 4586 Level 4 compliant interface for Crysalis GCS to connect AeroVironment SUAS with large naval vessel Tactical Control Systems and the Puma 3 AE Precision Recovery System, allowing autonomous aircraft recovery for larger vessels while continuously underway.”

Subsequent REP(MUS) 21 demonstrations connected the U.K.’s MAPLE command and control system to an airborne Puma 3 AE, allowing full control of both the aircraft and its i45 payload as MAPLE commanded. Both Puma 3 AE and Switchblade 300 flight operations regularly involved aircraft handoffs between control stations on the USNS Carson City, MADFOX, the Troia beach FOB, and the MOC at Troia base operations.

AeroVironment’s participation and contributing fielded Puma 3 AE and Switchblade 300 systems impacted the exercise greatly by enabling both U.S. and U.K. control systems to interact through comm relay STANAG 4856 compatibility, cross-domain unmanned capability C2 networking over-the-horizon and combined coalition S2S unmanned/uncrewed response to fast attack threats.

ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides technology solutions at the intersection of robotics, sensors, software analytics and connectivity that deliver more actionable intelligence so you can Proceed with Certainty. Headquartered in Virginia, AeroVironment is a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems and serves defense, government and commercial customers. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211018005289/en/

Makayla Thomas

AeroVironment, Inc.

+1 (805) 520-8350

pr@avinc.com

Mark Boyer

For AeroVironment, Inc.

+1 (213) 247-4109

mark@boyersyndicate.com

Source: AeroVironment, Inc.

FAQ

What was demonstrated by AeroVironment during NATO REP(MUS) 21?

AeroVironment demonstrated the Puma 3 AE unmanned aircraft system and Switchblade 300 missile system's interoperability in a sensor-to-shooter exercise.

How does the Puma 3 AE enhance military operations?

The Puma 3 AE enhances military operations by enabling effective intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and rapid target engagement.

What is the significance of the Precision Recovery System (PRS)?

The PRS allows for autonomous recovery of the Puma 3 AE while the Navy ship remains in motion, improving mission flexibility.

When and where did the demonstration take place?

The demonstration took place in September 2021 during NATO's REP(MUS) 21 exercise in Portugal.

What is the stock symbol for AeroVironment?

The stock symbol for AeroVironment is AVAV.