AeroVironment Delivers P550 Drones to US Army for Long-Range Reconnaissance
AeroVironment has delivered its first batch of P550 small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to the US Army under the Long-Range Reconnaissance program. The package included several P550 platforms, training kits, and master trainers to support rapid fielding and integration across the service.
P550 Overview
Unveiled in October 2024, the P550 is an AI-enabled, electric drone with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities. Designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, it follows a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), making it adaptable for different payloads and mission profiles.
Classified as a Group 2 UAS, the drone weighs 55 pounds (24.9 kilograms) and can carry payloads of up to 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). It boasts an endurance of five hours on a full battery charge and can be reconfigured in about five minutes without tools, including hot-swapping batteries and payloads.
