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Can it actually be true that the Wasp MAVs cost $291,000 each???

Posted by Chris Anderson on April 7, 2010 at 9:55pm
According to Defence Tech:

"The Air Force is asking for $3.2 million to purchase 11 WASP micro air vehicles – those wicked little Aeorvironment throwable drones that peek over the next ridge. The Air Force says the drones will allow:

Battlefield Airmen to rapidly adapt to the dynamic war fighting environment of the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). The system provides increased situational awareness in a combat environment, enables ground-based Battlefield Airmen to find and track time-critical targets, and provide bomb damage assessment and force protection for forward-deployed troops."



That's $291,000 each. Can this possibly be right?
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Comments

  • DougB April 8, 2010 at 8:48am
    $19.3 million contract for Wasp III MAV systems

    http://www.gizmag.com/aerovironment-wasp-iii-micro-air-vehicle/8605/
  • Tj Bordelon April 8, 2010 at 6:58am
    Most of that cost is development. They are paying for a few years of dev time plus deliverables. Don't make the mistake of thinking 5 years of your time is free.
  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer April 8, 2010 at 4:23am
    I don't know about the price but chucking it at that boat won't stop it.
  • Jack Crossfire April 8, 2010 at 1:26am
    There was a time houses were only $50,000 & movies were only $3.50. Time for a review of monetary policy.
  • Johnathan Nielsen April 7, 2010 at 11:44pm
    Let's also remember when the government has something budgeted for x amount of dollars that is what they spend. No more, no less.
  • Developer
    Ryan Beall April 7, 2010 at 10:48pm
    I can't remember what the price of the scan eagle was/is but I'm thinking its like half that??? Much more for the money!!!!
  • Moderator
    Brian April 7, 2010 at 10:30pm
    The site says it shares the same technology as it's bigger brothers including the same ground station. It's super light and tough, (although a guess, I think it is also kevlar). If you've ever priced kevlar for DIY projects... you ended up with a fiberglass widgett! (at least I did).
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson April 7, 2010 at 10:24pm
    Normally, we promise to make UAVs two orders of magnitude cheaper, but now I think we can do three. "90% of the features for 1/1000th the price!"
  • Moderator
    Brian April 7, 2010 at 10:11pm
    Yea, that's about right. If it's like the Raven then there are multiple planes, several sets of ground station equipment purchased as a "System". Total package per system is in that price-range.
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