AVAV News & Events

AeroVironment was awarded a $14.6M production contract by the U.S. Army for the VAPOR Compact Long Endurance unmanned aircraft system, its all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform, under the Company-Level Directed Requirement Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS), Tranche 2. The award supports the Army's Medium Range Reconnaissance initiative, one of the Army's ongoing unmanned systems procurements.

AeroVironment announced the debut of MAYHEM 10, a multi-role launched effects system purpose-built for deployment from air, ground, and maritime platforms. MAYHEM 10 is an autonomous, multi-role launched effects system that delivers significant operational versatility with a modular payload that supports interchangeable lethal and non-lethal effects-including intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, communications relay, and precision strike-tailored to specific mission requirements and adaptable as operational conditions change.

AeroVironment announced that its precision pointing hardware was on board NASA's historic Artemis II Mission as part of the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System, a laser communications terminal developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. During the Artemis II mission, O2O used lasers to send high-resolution video and images of the lunar surface back to Earth. AV's best-in-class laser gimbal allowed the spacecraft to precisely point the laser at terrestrial receivers, providing high-speed data links between astronauts in lunar orbit and ground stations. The technology enabled data transfer at speeds "orders of magnitude more than we get via our S-band telemetry system," NASA Flight Director Rick Henfling told the New York Times.

AeroVironment announced the appointment of Sean Woodward as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 1, 2026. Woodward succeeds Kevin McDonnell, who will be stepping down from the role, as announced earlier this year. McDonnell will remain with the Company in an advisory role through July 2026 to help ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.