TECHNOLOGY: New All Environment Wasp Drone

New and Improved

Wasp AE launch (photo courtesy of AeroVironment)

AeroVironment today (May 22) introduced the latest development of its Wasp class of small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) — the Wasp AE, which stands for all environment.

The tiny 2.8-pound (1.3kilogram) Wasp AE is capable of ground and water landings — making it suitable for maritime as well as land operations. The Wasp AE is equipped with a digital data link, allowing it to communicate and work with AeroVironment’s larger UASs, the Puma and Raven — as well as the Shrike vertical take off and landing (VTOL). It can be equipped to handle encrypted communication, operation beyond-line of sight and voice, video and data relay.

The earlier version of the Wasp has been adopted by the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps for tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations by small units. After a year of engineering and user assessments, the Air Force is including Wasp AE in its Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV) program and has placed an order for Wasp AE systems valued at $2.45 million.