KORTHOS / ECOSYSTEM / PRODUCT

P550

About

About P550

P550 uses an all-electric vertical-takeoff architecture that can be assembled and launched without a runway. Toolless payload and battery changes allow operators to reconfigure the aircraft in under five minutes, while the open payload interface supports intelligence, surveillance, targeting and communications equipment from different suppliers.

AeroVironment states endurance above five hours with a payload capacity of 15 pounds and supports AI-assisted object detection at the edge. The aircraft can be operated through different ground-control radio configurations and entered US Army production under a 2026 contract, moving it beyond a demonstration-only Group 2 platform.

01 JUN 2026

Robotics developments — 1–5 June 2026

Capabilities

Source-backed capabilities

  • Workflows: Tactical ISR mission, Drone ISR, Tactical reconnaissance
  • Operating environments: Defence operational environment
  • Deployment model: Military UAV platform operated by defence users for mission-configured tactical work.
  • Object classification

    Claimed - P550 performs onboard object classification during aerial missions. - environment: contested and GPS-challenged operating environments

    Source
  • ISR and tactical support

    Commercial deployment - 2025-08-20 - AeroVironment delivered initial P550 autonomous Group 2 eVTOL unmanned aircraft systems to the U.S. Army for the Long Range Reconnaissance program. - environment: Army reconnaissance UAS

    Source
  • ISR and tactical support

    Claimed - P550 is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. - environment: contested and GPS-challenged operating environments

    Source
  • Communications relay

    Claimed - P550 carries communications-relay payloads in contested operations. - environment: contested and GPS-challenged operating environments

    Source

Operations

  • Deliveries

    initial P550 autonomous Group 2 eVTOL UAS delivered to U.S. Army - 2025-08-20 - U.S. Army - Army reconnaissance UAS - AeroVironment delivered initial P550 autonomous Group 2 eVTOL unmanned aircraft systems to the U.S. Army for the Long Range Reconnaissance program.

    Source

Timeline

  • AeroVironment receives 82-aircraft P550 full-rate production order

    2026-07-20 - Contract Award - The award covers 82 P550 uncrewed aircraft systems and represents the platform's initial full-rate procurement. P550 supports battalion reconnaissance with field-swappable payloads and batteries, up to five hours of all-battery endurance and a modular open-systems architecture. The contract advances the Army's Long Range Reconnaissance and Drone Dominance priorities through a vetted commercial UAS marketplace.

    Source
  • PM UAS Awards Production Contract for Long Range Reconnaissance Systems to AV

    2026-03-23 - Contract Award - The U.S. Army UAS Project Office awarded AeroVironment a production contract for Long Range Reconnaissance Systems. The contract covers AV P550 Long Range Reconnaissance systems. The buyer is the U.S. Army UAS Project Office.

    Source
  • AeroVironment delivers initial P550 eVTOL UAS to US Army

    2025-08-20 - Deployment - The P550 delivery supported the Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance program for battalion-level reconnaissance and surveillance. The aircraft combines vertical takeoff and landing with more than five hours of all-electric endurance. Initial systems were delivered for operational Army evaluation and field use.

    Source

Context

Market context

Electric vertical-takeoff tactical UAS from AeroVironment's Group 2 portfolio, designed to bridge small field-deployable drones and larger endurance aircraft with modular payload support.

  • Target environment: Defence field operations and tactical reconnaissance environments.
  • Workflow context: Tactical ISR, target reconnaissance, remote operation and mission payload deployment.
  • Deployment model: Military UAV platform operated by defence users for mission-configured tactical work.
  • Commercial maturity: Publicly introduced defence UAV platform with customer-facing product material.
  • Adoption constraints: Requires defence procurement, operator training, payload configuration and rules of engagement for armed roles.
  • Market position: Tactical UAV platform extending AeroVironment's defence UAV range into larger mission-configured aircraft.
  • Adjacent products: Positioned above Puma-class small UAS in AeroVironment's defence product stack.

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