AeroVironment has secured a $43-million contract to equip the Pentagon’s SkyRange hypersonic test fleet with its advanced PANTHER phased-array telemetry receiver systems. The award supports the ongoing transformation of retired RQ-4 Global Hawk drones into “Range Hawks” capable of tracking and analyzing hypersonic missile tests. AeroVironment’s software-defined antenna technology will enhance simultaneous monitoring of multiple projectiles traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, while improving telemetry collection, signal processing, and overall evaluation efficiency during complex weapons trials.
