US Army Receives First AeroVironment P550 Uncrewed Aerial Systems
The US Army has taken delivery of an initial shipment of P550 drones from AeroVironment as part of the Long-Range Reconnaissance initiative. Alongside the aircraft, the Army received operator training systems and instructors to speed up deployment and operational use.
Capabilities of the P550
First introduced in October 2024, the P550 is an autonomous Group 2 UAS powered by electric propulsion and supported by AI-driven flight controls. The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform is suited for both reconnaissance and strike missions.
With a gross take-off weight of 55 pounds and the ability to carry 15 pounds of payload, the system offers five hours of endurance per battery charge. Its modular design allows rapid reconfiguration in five minutes or less, enabling easy payload or battery swaps without specialized tools.
