AeroVironment's Raven Small Unmanned Aircraft System Receives Military Aircraft Type-Classification Certificate from the Netherlands Military Aviation Authority

Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:10am EST
 
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Certification Permits Operation of Raven in Dutch National Airspace by the
Military 
MONROVIA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that the Military
Aviation Authority of the Netherlands (MLA-NLD) has issued a Military Type
Certificate (MTC) for the Raven B NLD MUAS, the first such certificate issued in
the Netherlands in the Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle category. This certificate
permits Dutch military personnel to operate Raven systems in designated Dutch
airspace. 

The AeroVironment Raven B system was selected by the Netherlands Ministry of
Defence, acting through its Defence Materiel Organization (DMO), after
performing an open competition in 2007. Key elements resulting in its selection
were hand-launchability, reliability, ease of use, robustness, and demonstrated
in-theater operational performance and logistics support. The DMO subsequently
purchased Raven B systems and support services, including training of military
users. 

"Receiving this MTC validates the Raven system's airworthiness and reliability,
but also represents an important step toward the operation of small UAS in our
national airspace," said Dick Goedhart, head section type management unmanned
aircraft, DMO. "This MTC also makes it possible for us to use Raven for
non-military applications, though for those activities segregation of airspace
must still be managed by procedures." 

The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor
platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for "over the
hill" and "around the corner" reconnaissance, surveillance and target
acquisition in support of tactical units. U.S. armed forces use Raven systems
extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission
planning and force protection. 

In addition to the Raven system, AV`s small UAS include Puma AE and Wasp, which
are also hand-launched and controlled by AV`s hand-held ground control station.
AV`s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a
consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered thousands of
small unmanned aircraft to date. In addition to the Netherlands, international
purchasers of Raven systems include Italy, Denmark, and Spain. 

About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)

Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops,
produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
and efficient electric energy systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of
Defense and allied military services use the company`s hand-launched UAS to
provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time,
airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. Commercial and
government entities use AV`s clean transportation solutions such as power
cycling and test systems and electric vehicle fast charge systems. More
information about AV is available at www.avinc.com. 

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking
statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations,
forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but
not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors
outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results
to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and
obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the
activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow;
failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate
new technology with current products; and general economic and business
conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list
and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no
obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. 

Additional AV News: http://www.avinc.com/resources/news

AV Media Gallery: http://www.avinc.com/media_gallery

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6090093&lang=en

AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin
+1 (626) 357-9983
pr@avinc.com
or
Mark Boyer
For AeroVironment, Inc.
+1 (310) 229-5956
mark@boyersyn.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

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