The US Army has selected AeroVironment’s VAPOR Compact Long Endurance (CLE) unmanned aircraft system for its Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) program, awarding a $14.6 million production contract on April 20.
This contract falls under the Company Level Direct Reconnaissance Small Unmanned Aircraft System (CoLvl DR SUAS) Tranche 2 initiative, enabling rapid deployment of advanced ISR capabilities to frontline units.
The VAPOR CLE is a 35-pound electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform offering up to two hours of persistent aerial surveillance.
It features a modular open systems architecture, supporting payloads up to 24 pounds—including sensors or lethal munitions—for versatile mission profiles.
Capable of autonomous operations in austere environments, the drone integrates with AV_Halo Command software for manual control, enhancing tactical flexibility for Army reconnaissance teams.
This selection underscores the Army’s push toward scalable, multi-role UAS platforms, bolstering medium-range ISR effectiveness amid evolving battlefield demands.