Marines getting Wasp AE microdrones from AeroVironment

QUANTICO, Va., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- AeroVironment Inc.'s short-range RQ-12 unmanned aerial system is being added to the U.S. Marine Corps' tactical UAS inventory.

The hand-launched RQ-12, known as the Wasp AE, is just 1.25 feet long, weighs 2.8 pounds, operates for up to 50 minutes at a range of up to about 3 miles, delivering live, streaming color and infrared video from a pan-tilt-zoom Mantis i22 AE gimbaled payload.

AeroVironment said it recently received an order for the system from ADS Inc. on behalf of the United States Marine Corps through the Defense Logistics Agency Tailored Logistics Support program.

The contract is worth nearly $21.8 million. System and accessory deliveries are to begin within 12 months.

"Together with the professionals at ADS, whose military-experienced personnel procured this order by demonstrating a clear understanding of the customer's mission and requirements, we are confident that Wasp AE will provide deployed Marines with valuable situational awareness that will help them operate more safely and effectively," said Roy Minson, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment.

The Marines already use AeroVironment's RQ-11B Raven, RQ-20A Puma and Shrike VTOL small unmanned aircraft systems, which operate with a common ground control system.