AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.

The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-wing aircraft will also be capable of carrying sensors.

AeroVironment is “actively pursuing multiple other defence opportunities” for Sunglider, also known as the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), AeroVironment chairman, president, and CEO Wahid Nawabi told analysts during a 27 June earnings call. “Given the current conflicts around the world, we believe that the defence market for HAPS represents a multibillion-dollar long-term growth opportunity.”

In a 28 June interview at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC, Charlie Dean, AeroVironment vice-president of global business development and marketing, declined to disclose the amount of the contract, how the money will be specifically used, or which DoD entity awarded the contract. A DoD spokesperson had no immediate comment at the time of publication.

AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.

The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-wing aircraft will also be capable of carrying sensors.

AeroVironment is “actively pursuing multiple other defence opportunities” for Sunglider, also known as the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), AeroVironment chairman, president, and CEO Wahid Nawabi told analysts during a 27 June earnings call. “Given the current conflicts around the world, we believe that the defence market for HAPS represents a multibillion-dollar long-term growth opportunity.”

In a 28 June interview at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC, Charlie Dean, AeroVironment vice-president of global business development and marketing, declined to disclose the amount of the contract, how the money will be specifically used, or which DoD entity awarded the contract. A DoD spokesperson had no immediate comment at the time of publication.

AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.

The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-wing aircraft will also be capable of carrying sensors.

AeroVironment is “actively pursuing multiple other defence opportunities” for Sunglider, also known as the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), AeroVironment chairman, president, and CEO Wahid Nawabi told analysts during a 27 June earnings call. “Given the current conflicts around the world, we believe that the defence market for HAPS represents a multibillion-dollar long-term growth opportunity.”

In a 28 June interview at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC, Charlie Dean, AeroVironment vice-president of global business development and marketing, declined to disclose the amount of the contract, how the money will be specifically used, or which DoD entity awarded the contract. A DoD spokesperson had no immediate comment at the time of publication.

AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.

The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-wing aircraft will also be capable of carrying sensors.

AeroVironment is “actively pursuing multiple other defence opportunities” for Sunglider, also known as the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), AeroVironment chairman, president, and CEO Wahid Nawabi told analysts during a 27 June earnings call. “Given the current conflicts around the world, we believe that the defence market for HAPS represents a multibillion-dollar long-term growth opportunity.”

In a 28 June interview at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC, Charlie Dean, AeroVironment vice-president of global business development and marketing, declined to disclose the amount of the contract, how the money will be specifically used, or which DoD entity awarded the contract. A DoD spokesperson had no immediate comment at the time of publication.

AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.

The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-wing aircraft will also be capable of carrying sensors.

AeroVironment is “actively pursuing multiple other defence opportunities” for Sunglider, also known as the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), AeroVironment chairman, president, and CEO Wahid Nawabi told analysts during a 27 June earnings call. “Given the current conflicts around the world, we believe that the defence market for HAPS represents a multibillion-dollar long-term growth opportunity.”

In a 28 June interview at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC, Charlie Dean, AeroVironment vice-president of global business development and marketing, declined to disclose the amount of the contract, how the money will be specifically used, or which DoD entity awarded the contract. A DoD spokesperson had no immediate comment at the time of publication.

AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.

The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-wing aircraft will also be capable of carrying sensors.

AeroVironment is “actively pursuing multiple other defence opportunities” for Sunglider, also known as the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), AeroVironment chairman, president, and CEO Wahid Nawabi told analysts during a 27 June earnings call. “Given the current conflicts around the world, we believe that the defence market for HAPS represents a multibillion-dollar long-term growth opportunity.”

In a 28 June interview at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC, Charlie Dean, AeroVironment vice-president of global business development and marketing, declined to disclose the amount of the contract, how the money will be specifically used, or which DoD entity awarded the contract. A DoD spokesperson had no immediate comment at the time of publication.