AeroVironment P550
VTOL
AeroVironment P550 is an autonomous all-electric Group 2 VTOL unmanned aircraft system developed for reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, and force protection missions. Its all-electric propulsion system enables vertical takeoff and landing without requiring a runway or separate launch and recovery equipment.
P550 provides more than five hours of endurance and a multi-sensor payload capacity of 6.8 kilograms. Its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) supports the integration of third-party sensors, datalinks, mission software, and ground control systems. Payloads and batteries can be swapped in the field without tools in less than five minutes. The platform can be configured for ISR, precision targeting, electronic warfare, communications relay, and strike missions.
U.S. Army production contract ↗ — AeroVironment announced that it received a $117.3 million U.S. Army production contract for the P550 under the Long Range Reconnaissance program. The award covers 82 P550 systems and represents the platform's initial full-rate production procurement.
Systems
- •VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing)
- •Propulsion (All-Electric)
- •Autonomy (AI-Enabled Autonomous Operations)
- •Architecture (Modular Open Systems Approach - MOSA)
- •Communications (Silvus / DDL)
- •Mission Control (Vigilant Spirit GCS)
- •Modular Payload and Battery
Sensors
- •EO/IR Sensor
- •VNS EO Sensor
- •VNS IR Sensor
- •Laser Range Finder (LRF)
- •AVACORE / SPOTR-EDGE
Compatible weapons
- •Guided Munition Integration