Defence Online

Netherlands MOD awards AeroVironment UAS contract

Air November 8, 2016

AeroVironment, a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for both military and commercial applications, has announced the receipt of a contract from the Netherlands Ministry of Defence for small UAS, upgrades and support services totalling $10.3 million. Delivery is anticipated within six months.

The contract encompasses AeroVironment’s entire family of fixed-wing small UAS and includes digital data link upgrades to the Dutch forces’ existing fleet of Raven B systems, battle-proven Puma AE, Wasp AE Micro Air Vehicle (MAV), and Ground Control Systems (GCS), as well as comprehensive support services.

The Netherlands procured AeroVironment Raven systems for the first time in 2008. 

The Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) stated: “The DMO evaluated our extensive operational experience with the AeroVironment Raven system against competing systems available both domestically and internationally. 

“After careful deliberation and consideration of total value, DMO decided not only to upgrade our existing analog Raven systems with AeroVironment’s digital data link, but also to procure the complete AeroVironment family of fixed-wing small UAS. This builds on our initial investment and equips our forces with the most capable and reliable small UAS in the world.”

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Mark Lane is a defence writer for defenceonline.co.uk and the MoD’s Defence Contracts Bulletin. He is also editor of Global Trader, sub-editor of Insider Scotland and a former editor of Business Today.

AeroVironment Europe MOD Netherlands Netherlands UAS unmanned

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