AeroVironment Inc. has won a $117 million US Army contract to deliver its P550 long-range reconnaissance UAV system.
Under the deal, task orders will define funding and work locations, with program completion expected by July 2026. The P550, introduced in 2024, has been positioned as a key contender for the Army’s LRR initiative, with initial deliveries completed in August 2025 and follow-on orders placed later that year.
Designed with a flexible, modular architecture, the P550 can be quickly adapted for multiple mission profiles, including intelligence gathering and strike operations. Its AI-enabled systems—featuring SPOTR-Edge and AVACORE—support onboard processing and real-time target recognition across varying conditions.
As a Group 2 UAS, the platform weighs up to 55 pounds, operates at altitudes of up to 3,500 feet, carries payloads of up to 15 pounds, and offers endurance of up to five hours per mission.
The LRR program forms part of the Pentagon’s broader effort to accelerate the deployment of small, attritable drones, improving battlefield awareness and targeting for frontline commanders, alongside systems such as Edge Autonomy’s VXE30 Stalker.
