The US Army has awarded AV a $14.6-million contract to produce its Vapor Compact Long Endurance (CLE) drone to support the service’s Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) program.
The US Army has awarded AV a $14.6-million contract to produce its Vapor Compact Long Endurance (CLE) drone to support the service’s Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) program.
The selection falls under the army’s Company-Level Directed Requirement, which aims to rapidly deliver commercially available small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) to brigade combat teams for urgent operational needs.
It also follows six months after the company introduced the Group 2 all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform in October 2025.
“This award reflects AV’s commitment to delivering operationally relevant, rapidly deployable solutions that meet the Army’s urgent needs and evolving mission requirements,” said Jason Hendrix, VP and General Manager of sUAS at AV.
Vapor CLE all-electric VTOL platform. Photo: AVVapor CLE
The roughly 35-pound (16-kilogram) electric VTOL platform maintains a persistent aerial presence for up to two hours.
Featuring a modular open systems architecture, the Vapor CLE can support and carry up to 24 pounds (10.8 kilograms) of payload or lethal munition.
It is capable of autonomous operation across austere environments, but can also be controlled via the AV_Halo Command software.
MRR Program
One of the army’s several sUAS Programs, the MRR effort seeks drones with a range of at least 6 miles (10 kilometers), and that can remain airborne for 30 minutes.
In its FY2026 budget request, the army sought to procure 107 company-level sUAS as an initial capability for its future MRR program.
It selected Anduril Industries and Performance Drone Works in 2024 to supply the systems for company-level reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
