AeroVironment has secured a $117.3 million contract from the US Army to manufacture an additional 82 P550 electric vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial systems, expanding the military’s next-generation reconnaissance capabilities. The aircraft will be delivered to battalion reconnaissance teams, providing enhanced intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition, and scouting support across a broad range of operational environments. The award represents the first full-rate production acquisition of the P550 platform following successful evaluations and earlier procurement efforts. It follows a similar Army contract awarded in March, previous orders placed in December, and initial operational deliveries that began in August 2025. The P550 combines the flexibility of vertical takeoff and landing with the endurance and efficiency of fixed-wing flight, enabling operations from confined locations without conventional runways while extending mission range and flight duration. The continued investment reflects the Army’s growing emphasis on advanced unmanned systems capable of supporting multi-domain operations through persistent reconnaissance and real-time battlefield awareness. As future military operations increasingly depend on autonomous technologies, the P550 is expected to play a key role in improving tactical decision-making, force protection, and operational effectiveness across diverse mission environments.
