The milestone marks the first fielding of the new P550 product line, which has been built with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to enable adaptation in contested environments. The system offers multiple payload, radio and power options to address evolving threats and enhance operational effectiveness.
“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, AV’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.”
The P550 is AeroVironment’s latest autonomous Group 2 eVTOL system, designed for rapid deployment and enhanced situational awareness, targeting and strike capabilities. It can carry payloads of up to 15 pounds, operate for up to five hours on battery power, and has a Gross Take-Off Weight of 55 pounds.
According to AeroVironment, the system can be reconfigured in less than five minutes without tools, including hot-swapping of payloads and batteries. Its open and scalable architecture is intended to allow continuous upgrades at low cost and reduced risk.
Initial deliveries were accompanied by comprehensive training provided by AeroVironment’s field service representatives to support operators and maintainers. The systems were evaluated by Master Trainers through “train-the-trainer” instruction to enable rapid fielding and integration into Army units.
The company stated it will continue to deliver additional systems to meet the Army’s evolving operational requirements.
