Battle Over U.S. Army Loitering Munitions Sale: Mistral, Representing Israel’s UVision, Petitions Against AeroVironment's Contract Award
On August 28, AeroVironment confirmed that it had signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. Army. The petition is expected to delay the deal for at least 100 days
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jaye Townsend
The loitering munitions market in the U.S. is characterized by fierce competition, with companies like Mistral, representing Israel's UVision, taking bold steps to solidify their position. Recently, it was reported that Mistral filed a petition to reconsider the U.S. Army's nearly billion-dollar contract with AeroVironment for Switchblade loitering munitions. This move is likely aimed at halting the major competitor’s deal.
Mistral represents the interests of UVision, a company that designs, manufactures, and supplies a wide range of loitering munitions suited for deployment from air, land, and sea. By challenging the contract with AeroVironment, Mistral is likely attempting to create opportunities for UVision's products, such as the Hero-120SF.
On August 28, AeroVironment confirmed that it had signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. Army to support the Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS) requirement, under which it will provide an undisclosed number of Switchblade munitions. Although the grounds for the petition have not yet been revealed, it will delay the production of Switchblade systems while the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviews the case. A formal decision is expected within 100 calendar days, as required by law. If Mistral's petition is upheld, the U.S. Army may be forced to reopen the competition.
In June of this year, it was reported that UVision and Mistral secured a $73,552,208 contract with U.S. Special Operations Command to supply Hero-120SF systems. This contract highlights the growing importance of loitering munitions on the modern battlefield and puts UVision's products in the spotlight.
