AeroVironment Antennae Extends Range of Drones

AeroVironment Inc. has released of a new, long-range tracking antenna for its Puma drone system. The new antennae will expand Puma’s range to about 37 miles, compared to its previous range of about 12.5 miles. The Puma, with a wingspan of 9 feet and weighing 14 pounds, is used for surveillance and reconnaissance by military, firefighters and commercial customers. AeroVironment is headquartered in Monrovia but tests and manufactures its drones in Simi Valley. The company said its long-range Puma antennae is available for ordering with delivery scheduled for spring of 2018. Shares of AeroVironment (AVAV) closed Tuesday up 29 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $48.95 on the Nasdaq.