US Army awards AeroVironment 117 million dollar contract for 82 P550 long-range reconnaissance drones
The US Army is pushing long-range reconnaissance drones down to the battalion level. AeroVironment $AVAV won a 117.3 million dollar contract to deliver 82 of its P550 systems, the service confirmed June 3. The buy reflects lessons drawn from drone-heavy fighting in Ukraine.
The US Army is moving long-range reconnaissance drones down to the battalion level, giving smaller units their own organic eyes deep beyond the front line. AeroVironment $AVAV has won a contract worth 117.3 million dollars to deliver 82 of its P550 systems, the service confirmed on June 3. The P550 is designed for battalion-level intelligence, surveillance and target acquisition, expanding the range at which formations can detect and track targets without relying on higher-echelon assets. The Army describes the purchase as one of the first large procurements tied to its effort to increase tactical drone density across combat units. That effort follows close study of drone-heavy fighting in Ukraine and the July 2025 initiative to expand US military drone use. The contract is part of a broader Army push to distribute reconnaissance capabilities once held at division or corps level to far smaller units. Reported by Army Recognition.