AeroVironment Wins $30.9M Contract to Deliver Full Puma™ UAS Capability Suite for Germany's LARUS Program

Arlington, Virginia, July 7, 2025 — AeroVironment, Inc. (AV; Nasdaq: AVAV), a global defense technology leader, today announced that the German Bundeswehr has selected AV's next-generation Puma family of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for its Luftgestützte Aufklärung mit Unbemannten Systemen (LARUS) aerial reconnaissance program. The order was placed through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) UAS partnership framework.

Contract Overview

The procurement order is valued at $30.9 million and delivers a complete, advanced capability package encompassing both the Puma AE (All Environment) and Puma LE (Long Endurance) variants in a single integrated acquisition — making it one of the largest Puma procurements in Europe to date.

"Germany has long been a Puma operator, and this award represents a decisive step toward fully modernizing the Bundeswehr's Puma fleet," said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and CEO of AeroVironment. "By acquiring the full Puma capability spectrum in a single program — from advanced sensors and SIGINT payloads to vertical take-off and landing systems and autonomous flight packages — the Bundeswehr is effectively leapfrogging to a highly integrated, multi-mission, all-domain reconnaissance solution built on a proven platform."

Deliverables

Under the NSPA procurement order, AV will deliver a comprehensive suite of advanced payloads, ground control technologies, communications systems, and autonomous flight packages to support Germany's small tactical UAS requirements under the LARUS program. New equipment training and specialized payload training are also included. All deliveries must be completed by end of 2026.

The order encompasses nearly every major upgrade developed for the Puma family to date, including:

• HD Laser Designator EO/IR Payload (HD59 LD Kit): Configured for the Puma LE, providing true laser target designation capability for precision engagement.
• Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Payload: Compatible with Puma 3 AE and Puma LE configurations, enabling advanced signal collection and sensing missions.
• Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Kit: The Puma VTOL system, enabling flexible operations in constrained environments.
• Next-Generation Ground Control Stations (GCS): GCS configurations equipped with Tomahawk Kinesis, including controllers and ultra-lightweight/tactical GCS variants supporting dismounted, man-portable, and vehicle-mounted operations.
• Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) Communications Relay: MANET relay kits for Puma 3 AE and Puma LE, providing extended, robust, and resilient communications — including beyond-line-of-sight (BVLOS) connectivity.
• Autonomous Release Kit (ARK): Installs advanced autonomous capabilities and AV's latest autonomous flight software on compatible Puma hardware.
• Full Support Package: Field repair kits, bungee launch systems, smart battery assemblies, installation and retrofit kits, and formal training courses to ensure complete operational readiness and sustained maintenance capability.

Industry Significance

"This is the first time a customer has acquired virtually the entire Puma capability portfolio within a single program, and that sends a strong signal to our global user community," said Trace Stevenson, President of AV Autonomous Systems. "It powerfully validates our sustained investment in sensors, autonomy, communications, and ground control — transforming Puma from a traditional tactical UAS into a modern, networked reconnaissance node that integrates seamlessly into joint and allied operational architectures."

The LARUS program is managed by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and focuses on the procurement and deployment of small tactical unmanned systems for aerial reconnaissance. Germany had previously fielded the Puma AE; this program substantially increases both capacity and capability by introducing the latest payload, communications, and autonomy upgrades across the extended Puma family.

Strengthening AV's European Footprint

"Europe is a critical growth market for AV, and our collaboration with NSPA and Germany on the LARUS program clearly demonstrates how we are deepening partnerships across the region," said Chris Black, Senior Director of European Business Development at AV. "By delivering a comprehensively modernized Puma fleet tailored to European mission requirements and infrastructure, we are not only supporting Germany's operational needs but also helping to strengthen allied interoperability and resilience on NATO's eastern and central flanks."

This award further underscores AV's expanding role in Europe. AV works closely with the NSPA LQ program to provide interoperable, NATO-standard small UAS solutions to multiple allied nations, enabling rapid deployment and sustained maintenance across the continent.

About AeroVironment (AV)

AeroVironment (AV; Nasdaq: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across the air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The company develops and fields autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities to meet the mission needs of warfighters in today's and tomorrow's conflicts. Central to these technologies is AV_Halo — a modular, mission-ready, AI-powered software toolkit that gives warfighters full-spectrum battlefield dominance: detect, decide, strike. With a nationwide manufacturing base and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-ready capabilities with speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

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