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TechUS Army awards AeroVironment $117.3M contract for 82 P550 eVTOL drones
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The US Army has awarded a $117.3 million contract to AeroVironment for the delivery of 82 P550 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The award, issued under the Army's Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Marketplace initiative, supports the Long Range Reconnaissance program and the Battalion Reconnaissance effort. This is the first full-rate order for the P550 platform, which is a Group 2 eVTOL UAS with a modular open systems architecture. The aircraft can carry multi-sensor payloads up to 15 pounds, operate for up to five hours on battery power, and support missions including ISR, precision strike, electronic warfare, and communications relay. The system can be reconfigured in under five minutes without tools. AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi emphasized the platform's adaptability in contested environments. Earlier in 2025, the company also secured a $186 million order for Switchblade loitering munitions.
Source report
The US Army has awarded a $117.3 million contract to AeroVironment for the delivery of its P550 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
Contract Details
The award was issued under a Basic Ordering Agreement through the Army's Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Marketplace initiative. It forms part of the service's Long Range Reconnaissance program, aimed at enhancing intelligence and operational flexibility in modern combat environments.
Under the contract, AeroVironment will deliver 82 P550 uncrewed aircraft systems in support of the US Army's Battalion Reconnaissance effort.
According to the company, this procurement marks the first full-rate order for the P550 platform and reflects the Army's strategy to rapidly adopt commercially developed technologies that support long-range surveillance, autonomous operations, and distributed mission execution.
P550 Platform Specifications
The P550 is categorized as a Group 2 eVTOL UAS and features a modular open systems architecture, enabling integration with third-party payloads, data links, and mission planning software.
Key capabilities include:
- Payload capacity: Multi-sensor payloads up to 15 pounds (lbs), with options for enhanced lethality
- Flight endurance: Up to five hours on battery power
- Mission types: Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), precision strike, electronic warfare (EW), and communications relay across air, ground, and maritime domains
Field Reconfiguration
According to AeroVironment, the P550 can be reconfigured at the field level in less than five minutes, allowing operators to change payloads and batteries without tools. This capability is intended to reduce operator workload and enable rapid adaptation to evolving mission requirements.
Executive Commentary
AeroVironment chairman, president and CEO Wahid Nawabi stated:
"In today's battlespace, adaptability is no longer an advantage, it's a requirement. The P550 gives maneuver forces the ability to rapidly reconfigure, extend their reach, and deliver effects across domains, all while operating in contested environments where speed and autonomy are decisive."
Related Contract
Earlier this year, AeroVironment secured a $186 million delivery order from the US Army for its Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 explosively formed penetrator (EFP) loitering munition systems.
Credit: © AeroVironment, Inc.
Source
Army TechnologyWestern
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AeroVironment wins $117.3m US Army contract for 82 P550 eVTOL drones