GENESIS: AeroVironment’s $97M Army contract is latest in next-generation defense systems

To boost the Army’s efforts to modernize, AeroVironment is turning to GENESIS.

Under a three-year, $97.4 million contract, the company, which has an office on Corporate Drive in Huntsville, will design and integrate prototype test environments — including flight motion table and cryogenic space chamber facilities — on Redstone Arsenal.

The contract was awarded under the Army’s Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium. 

The project –  Generative Environment for the Next Era of Spectral Imaging Stimulators (GENESIS) – is a next-generation Hardware-in-the-Loop test environment for validating advanced missile defense and electro-optical/infrared sensor systems, the company said.  

“True innovation in defense starts long before technology reaches the battlefield — it starts in how we test, refine, and prove it,” said Mary Clum, president of Space, Cyber and Directed Energy. “By creating realistic, repeatable, and scalable testing ecosystems, we’re helping the Army accelerate innovation, strengthen deterrence, and ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive advantage in every domain.”

The unified environment will enable joint planning, modeling, and validation across space, air, and missile defense domains in support of the Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center and its government partners. 

“GENESIS shows what’s possible when industry and government align around a shared vision of innovation,” said Johnathan Jones, senior vice president for Cyber and Mission Solutions at AV. “We’re pushing the boundaries of sensor testing — advancing realism and precision to help the U.S. military accelerate development, reduce risk, and deliver mission-ready technologies that preserve our nation’s decisive advantage and give warfighters the most capable, reliable systems possible.” 

The company said GENESIS represents a generational leap in Hardware-in-the-Loop capability, integrating advanced multi-spectral projection, ultra–high frame-rate imaging, precision optics, and intelligent facility control systems to recreate complex, real-world environments with unmatched fidelity. 

By combining real hardware with simulated environments, AV officials said HWIL and Scene Generation enable realistic, dynamic testing of sensors, guidance, and control systems, allowing DEVCOM AvMC to validate and field technologies faster and with greater confidence, while refining performance, reducing risk, and strengthening the industrial base for future military applications. 

The award follows up on other major Army contracts AV won recently.

Last month, the company received a $186 million order for its next-generation Switchblade loitering munitions systems. 

“This delivery order reflects the Army’s confidence in the next evolution of the Switchblade family and its relevance to modern, contested battlefields,” said Brian Young, senior vice president of Loitering Munitions. “Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 build on years of combat experience while delivering meaningful upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality tailored to today’s operational demands.

“As we continue to invest in expanding Switchblade manufacturing capacity and accelerating delivery timelines, we are continuing to meet the growing demand for these products from U.S. and allied forces.”  

In December, the company delivered its LOCUST (Laser Optical Counter-UAS System for Tactical use) vehicle-mounted laser weapon systems to the Army.

“Directed energy is no longer a future concept – it is a proven force-protection capability,” said John Garrity, vice president of AV’S Directed Energy business unit. “Since deployed, LOCUST-equipped P-HEL (palletized high-energy laser) systems have actively protected warfighters, allies, and critical infrastructure against aerial threats. 

“With LOCUST’s target acquisition, tracking and precision beam control, warfighters have an easy-to-use, reliable, trusted, and proven solution against the very real and evolving threats of modern warfare.” 

Also in December, the company received an $874 million contract for Puma and Raven uncrewed aircraft systems, supporting foreign military sales.

Raven is the most widely deployed sUAS in the world. It is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility in military or commercial operations that require low-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. 

The Raven is hand-launched and has an operational range of 6.2 miles, providing situational awareness – day or night – with real-time video or infrared imagery to ground control and remote viewing stations. 

“We are delivering innovative defense technologies to meet our national security priorities – at home and abroad,” said Justin McFarlin, vice president of International Business Development. “Our autonomous technologies are battle-proven and trusted, giving warfighters unparalleled mission flexibility, situational awareness, and a sphere of protection against threats–all within lightweight, easy-to-transport, easy-to-deploy systems. 

“This contract will help accelerate our ongoing efforts to get these critical capabilities to warfighters around the world.”