AgEagle Announces eBee TAC™ Drone Solution Added to Blue UAS Cleared List by Defense Innovation Unit

Rhea-AI Summary

AgEagle Aerial Systems (NYSE American: UAVS) announced that its subsidiary, senseFly, has been approved as a Blue UAS supplier, allowing the eBee TAC drone to be procured by the U.S. Department of Defense. The eBee TAC completed rigorous evaluations and is now listed as a compliant system, providing capabilities for military mapping and situational awareness. With its lightweight design and advanced features, it has become the best-selling commercial fixed-wing drone in the U.S. for three years.

Positive

• eBee TAC approved as a Blue UAS by the DIU, allowing it to be procured by the DoD.
• Recognized as the best-selling commercial fixed-wing UAS in the U.S. for three consecutive years.
• eBee TAC offers significant capabilities for military applications, enhancing situational awareness.

Negative

• None.

AgEagle Subsidiary, senseFly, Selected as a Blue UAS Approved Drone Supplier

WICHITA, Kan. and LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE American: UAVS) (“AgEagle” or the “Company”), an industry-leading provider of full-stack drone, sensor and software solutions, today announced that senseFly, an AgEagle subsidiary, is one of the first eleven vendors to complete the required testing, evaluations and demonstration process to be designated a Blue UAS under the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue sUAS 2.0. As a result, the NDAA-compliant eBee TAC Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), pioneered by senseFly, has been approved by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

In an announcement released yesterday, the DIU stated, “The first approved drone to be added to the DIU Blue UAS Cleared List as part of Blue sUAS 2.0 is the eBee TAC by senseFly, an AgEagle company. Systems added to this list do not require a DoD exception to policy to procure or operate as they have undergone a cyber-security evaluation, a policy compliance check, and were issued the necessary administrative documentation. Federal government partners can also leverage this effort for their programmatic needs without duplicating efforts.”

The eBee TAC successfully completed a series of demonstrations in association with Blue sUAS 2.0 to provide DIU with information and verification of the drone systems’ mission planning and launch capabilities, range and endurance, NDAA compliance, operational safety of flight procedures and cyber security, in addition to scripted and ad hoc flight profiles. Based on its evaluation, the DIU has designated the eBee TAC as an approved light-weight, medium-range UAS available to the DoD that does not require a waiver to operate; and is also available to the Federal Government. senseFly’s success with Blue sUAS 2.0 follows a four-year legacy of eBee’s use as an integral asset for both conventional and unconventional Department of Defense units.

Following a decade of development, senseFly’s line of eBee-branded drones have earned distinction as the best-selling commercial fixed wing UAS in the United States over the past three consecutive years, according to data supplied by the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Designed specifically for government and military mapping and mission planning applications, the eBee TAC operates in disconnected environments, providing a higher accuracy mobile solution to map and locally share aerial imagery data on rapidly changing field conditions to analyze and provide near real-time situational awareness to ground forces. Weighing only 3.5 pounds and featuring a digital camouflage skin for increased stealth and up to 90 minutes flight time and silent mission mode, the eBee TAC can be rapidly deployed, from assembly to hand-launch, in three minutes by a single user to generate 3D modeling, terrain and thermal maps.

Each eBee TAC system features NDAA compliant drone, sensors and active components, Blue sUAS registration, secure extension, Endurance activation, two Endurance batteries, one Pitot Pro-kit, two micro SD cards with adapters, AES256-bit encryption, pixel camouflage and an IP67 hard transport case with STANAG military standard certification that is lightweight, rugged and dust and water resistant.

eBee TAC is available for purchase by U.S. government agencies and all branches of the military on GSA Schedule Contract #47QTCA18D003G supplied by Hexagon US Federal and partner Tough Stump Technologies as a standalone solution or as part of the Aerial Reconnaissance Tactical Edge Mapping Imagery System (ARTEMIS). Tough Stump also provides extensive training programs for the system.

ARTEMIS includes and integrates Hexagon US Federal’s Google Earth Enterprise Platform (GEEP) equipped laptops containing custom globes of mission Areas-of-Interest (AOIs) built from satellite imagery and other geospatial intelligence; and forms the backdrop for the eBee TAC-collected imagery. “Hexagon US Federal has long been committed to supporting the warfighter and public safety professionals through innovative solutions such as ARTEMIS,” said Tammer Olibah, CEO and President of Hexagon US Federal. “ARTEMIS has great potential to improve mission effectiveness in a variety of terrains, and DIU approval of the eBee TAC is a significant step in making ARTEMIS available to an even wider US Government audience.”

Barrett Mooney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AgEagle, stated, “The eBee TAC is ideally positioned to become an in-demand, mission critical tool for the U.S. military, government and civil agencies and our allies worldwide. We expect this to be a major growth catalyst for AgEagle in 2022, positively impacting our financial performance in the years ahead as AgEagle solidifies itself as the go-to source for high performing, state-of-the-art full stack drone solutions that get the job done.”

About AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.
AgEagle and its wholly owned subsidiaries are actively engaged in designing and delivering best-in-class drones, sensors and software that solve important problems for our customers. Founded in 2010, AgEagle was originally formed to pioneer proprietary, professional-grade, fixed-winged drones and aerial imagery-based data collection and analytics solutions for the agriculture industry.  Today, AgEagle is a leading provider of full stack drone solutions for customers worldwide in the energy, construction, agriculture, and government verticals. For additional information, please visit our websites at www.ageagle.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s current expectations include those risks and uncertainties relating to our competitive position, the industry environment, potential growth opportunities, and the effects of regulation and events outside of our control, such as natural disasters, wars, or health epidemics. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

AgEagle Aerial Systems Contacts:
Investor Relations:	Media Inquiries:
Gateway Investor Relations	media@ageagle.com
Matt Glover or Cody Cree
Phone: 949-574-3860
Email: UAVS@gatewayIR.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f76a166-5192-41e3-896b-8c98f955ce5f

FAQ

What is the significance of AgEagle's eBee TAC being approved as a Blue UAS?

The approval allows the eBee TAC drone to be procured by the U.S. Department of Defense without the need for a waiver, indicating its compliance with security and operational standards.

How long has senseFly's eBee TAC been in development?

The eBee TAC has undergone a decade of development, establishing itself as an integral asset for the Department of Defense.

What are the capabilities of the eBee TAC drone?

The eBee TAC is designed for military mapping, providing near real-time situational awareness with features like up to 90 minutes of flight time and silent operation.

When was the eBee TAC drone approved by the Defense Innovation Unit?

The eBee TAC was announced as approved on March 10, 2022, after successful evaluations.

What does NDAA-compliant mean for the eBee TAC?

NDAA-compliant means that the eBee TAC meets the cybersecurity and operational standards set by the National Defense Authorization Act, ensuring its suitability for defense procurement.