AeroVironment wins $500M counter-drone contract for domestic program

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) has been awarded a three-year, $500 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to support Joint Interagency Task Force 401's (JIATF-401) Domestic Shield Program, according to a press release from the company.

The sole-source contract calls for AeroVironment to provide Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) and Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) capabilities for force protection, base defense, and counter-UAS operations. The award was announced July 1.

The Domestic Shield Program is a JIATF-401 initiative aimed at expanding defensive perimeters, streamlining threat identification, strengthening interagency data sharing, and delegating protection authorities to defend high-risk facilities and critical assets against drone threats.

Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at AeroVironment, said: "This award reflects strong confidence in AV, our people and our technology and it reinforces the shared obligation we have to stay ahead of rapidly evolving drone threats, not only in contested theaters abroad, but in the skies over our own communities."

Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401, said: "By investing in the latest technology, we are adding another tool in a layered defense so we can respond swiftly and effectively to any illicit drone threats."

In April, the Department announced that JIATF-401 had committed over $600 million to strengthen counter-UAS capabilities in support of Operation Epic Fury and homeland defense.

AeroVironment said its counter-UAS architecture includes its AV_Halo™ platform, which connects sensors, platforms, and operators and enables interoperability with third-party technologies and command-and-control systems. The company said it will release additional information as task and delivery orders are executed against the IDIQ.

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