Army Selects AV’s VAPOR® CLE for Medium Range Reconnaissance Program

Key Terms

unmanned aircraft system (uas) technical

An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is the complete setup for operating a drone: the aircraft itself plus the ground controls, communication links, sensors, batteries and any launch or recovery equipment. Investors care because a UAS’s capabilities, safety, regulatory approval and costs determine market opportunities and risks for industries like delivery, surveying, agriculture and defense—think of it as buying not just a vehicle but the driver, radio and fuel that make it useful.

vertical takeoff and landing (vtol) technical

An aircraft design that can lift off and touch down vertically without needing a runway, like a helicopter or newer electric short-range models, enabling point-to-point travel from small pads or rooftops. Investors care because VTOL technology changes who can provide transportation and how much it costs to operate and scale — similar to how ride-sharing changed ground transport — so its commercial readiness, safety, infrastructure needs and production costs can materially affect manufacturers, service providers and related supply chains.

small uncrewed aircraft system (suas) technical

A small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS) is a remotely operated or autonomous flying vehicle—commonly called a drone—together with its ground controls, communication links and related equipment. Think of it as a remote-controlled airplane or camera on a leash that can take pictures, carry sensors or small payloads without a pilot onboard. Investors care because sUAS enable new revenue streams and cost savings across industries, create regulatory and liability risks, and drive demand for hardware, software, data services and insurance.

brigade combat teams (bcts) technical

Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) are large, self-contained military units typically composed of several thousand soldiers and a mix of infantry, armor, artillery, engineers and support elements, organized to operate independently like a mobile, all-purpose task force. For investors, BCTs matter because defense contractors and governments plan equipment purchases, training, deployments and upgrades around the number and type of BCTs, which affects long-term demand for weapons, vehicles, logistics and services — similar to how a fleet size drives orders for an airline.

reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition technical

Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) describes systems and activities that locate, monitor, and pinpoint objects or threats—like cameras, sensors, aircraft, and data links that gather and share real-time information. Investors care because RSTA capabilities drive demand for hardware, software, and services in defense and security markets; they act like a company’s early-warning system, where better detection and faster targeting can translate into sustained contracts, revenue predictability, and technological competitive advantage.

modular open architecture technical

Modular open architecture is a way of designing products or systems as a set of replaceable parts that use shared, open connections so different makers can add or swap components easily. Like building with Lego blocks and standardized plugs, it lets companies update or expand features without replacing the whole system. For investors, this usually means faster innovation, lower upgrade costs, less vendor lock‑in and potentially wider market adoption.

 

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global defense technology leader, today announced it was awarded a $14.6 million production contract by the U.S. Army for the VAPOR® Compact Long Endurance (CLE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS), its all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform, under the Company-Level Directed Requirement (CoLvl DR) Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS), Tranche 2.

AV’s VAPOR® Compact Long Endurance (CLE) unmanned aircraft system—an all-electric VTOL platform – was selected for the Army’s Medium Range Reconnaissance program. (Photo AV)

The award supports the Army’s Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) initiative, one of the Army’s ongoing unmanned systems procurements.

“Being selected for the Company-Level Directed Requirement validates VAPOR CLE’s performance, adaptability, and mission value,” said Jason Hendrix, Vice President and General Manager of SUAS at AV. “This award reflects AV’s commitment to delivering operationally relevant, rapidly deployable solutions that meet the Army’s urgent needs and evolving mission requirements.”

The Army’s CoLvl DR effort delivers commercially available SUAS capabilities to Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) to meet immediate operational needs, emphasizing UAS as a complete system. This approach enables modular, reconfigurable, and attritable payloads for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition, while enhancing adaptability, operational effectiveness, and soldier-driven experimentation to shape future requirements.

Engineered for demanding missions, the VAPOR CLE all-electric helicopter UAS sets a new standard for endurance, payload capacity, and field adaptability. Designed for operations across austere environments — from Arctic terrain to contested maritime conditions — the platform combines rugged reliability with a compact, deploy-anywhere design. Its modular open architecture and multi-sensor payload bay make it one of the most versatile small VTOL systems available.

Its folding airframe and compact pack-out system enable case-to-flight in as little as two minutes, delivering exceptional portability and speed to launch. Ruggedized for extreme weather and harsh sea states, VAPOR CLE can carry up to 24 pounds of payload or lethal munitions and deliver up to two hours of endurance, outperforming other all-electric quadcopters and competing helicopter UAS platforms in its class.

About AV

AeroVironment (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo™, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain new ones; regulatory changes; competitor activities; market growth; product development challenges; and general economic conditions. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, please refer to AeroVironment’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260416053128/en/

Media Contact:
BJ Koubaroulis
pr@avinc.com
747.324.5358

Investor Contact:
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805.795.4108

Source: AeroVironment, Inc.