AeroVironment, Inc. announced that NAVAIR's Program Office for Navy & Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PMA-263), working collaboratively with the United States Army's Counter-IED Program Office, awarded a contract on Sept. 21, 2012 for AeroVironment Wasp(R) AE small unmanned aircraft systems, initial spares packages, training services, and one year of contractor logistics support. The PMA /Army team worked jointly to award the contract to PAR(R) Government Systems Corporation, which in turn secured the systems and services from AeroVironment for a total value of $12,032,430.

Delivery was scheduled to occur within four months of contract award. An operator launches an AeroVironment Wasp AE small unmanned aircraft system. The United States Marine Corps adds the 2.8 pound Wasp AE system to its toolkit with a $12 million order.