WASHINGTON: In a major initiative to bolster global airspace defences against rapidly evolving aerial threats, the United States Department of Defence (DoD) officially announced the finalisation of a massive federal procurement deal on Thursday.
The Pentagon counter-drone contract officially awards California-based defence manufacturer AeroVironment Inc. a $500,000,000 firm-fixed-price agreement to source high-tier defensive systems.
The department said the firm-fixed-price contract covered commercial counter-unmanned aerial systems, known as C-UAS, and counter small-unmanned aerial systems capabilities.
AeroVironment, based in Simi Valley, California, secured the contract for work expected to run until June 29, 2029, according to the Defence Department statement.
The department said work locations and funding would be determined with each order placed under the contract. It also said delivery quantities would be set through individual orders.
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AeroVironment is a US defence contractor that develops unmanned aerial vehicles and counter-drone technologies.
According to the formal statement released by the Department of Defence, the primary focus of the contract remains the procurement of commercial counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) alongside advanced counter-small unmanned aerial systems (C-SUAS) capabilities.
