AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), headquartered in Simi Valley, California, received a firm‑fixed‑price contract valued at $500 million from the U.S. Department of War. The award, announced on 2 July 2026, pertains to the procurement of commercial counter‑unmanned aerial systems and counter small‑unmanned aerial systems capabilities. The contract is identified as W912CH‑26‑D‑A073 and is administered by the Army Contracting Command located at the Detroit Arsenal in Michigan. Work locations and specific funding allocations will be determined with each individual order under the agreement, and the estimated completion date for all deliverables is 29 June 2029. Following the announcement, AeroVironment’s shares rose 1.6 % in after‑hours trading on the same day. The company specializes in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems for both military and commercial applications.