US Army Takes Delivery of P550 Small UAS From Aerovironment
AeroVironment has delivered an initial batch of P550 small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to the US Army under the Long-Range Reconnaissance program.
The package included “multiple” P550 systems, comprehensive training equipment, and master trainers to instruct operators within the service in rapid fielding and operational integration.
“We are proud to deliver the P550 to Army units, empowering warfighters with a system that can quickly adapt to fluid combat scenarios, providing unmatched reliability and flexibility,” said Trace Stevenson, the company’s President of Autonomous Systems.
“Our team remains committed to supporting the Army with seamless delivery, training, and sustainment to ensure these systems are ready when needed.”
Group 2 P550
Unveiled in October 2024, the P550 is an AI-driven, autonomous, and electric platform with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities.
It was designed for a variety of roles, including reconnaissance and strike missions, and features a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA).
Classified as a Group 2 drone, it has a gross take-off weight of 55 pounds (24.9 kilograms) and a maximum payload capacity of 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms).
It can operate continuously for up to five hours on a single full battery charge before needing to land to recharge or swap batteries.
Meanwhile, it is reconfigurable in around five minutes without tools, including hot-swapping payloads and batteries.
