AeroVironment Wins Drone Contract

AeroVironment Inc. received a $13 million contract to supply its Puma unmanned aircraft to the Marine Corps. Delivery of the small drones by the Simi Valley company is expected within 12 months. The order came from ADS Inc., a Virginia Beach, Va. procurement specialist for the military and law enforcement on behalf of the Marine Corps. The 13.5 pound, hand-launched Puma aircraft will be used by the Marines for remote scouting in conjunction with two other AeroVironment drones, the Raven and Wasp. “The Puma unmanned aircraft delivers situational awareness directly to its operator in ground, riverine and maritime operations,” Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment, said in a prepared statement. The company announced the contract Nov. 25. Shares closed Monday up 5 cents, or a fraction of a percent, to $25.58 on the Nasdaq.