AeroVironment’s subsidiary VideoRay has introduced the Mission Specialist Wraith, a breakthrough in expeditionary unmanned underwater systems. At just 22 inches in diameter and weighing under 50 pounds, Wraith delivers 40% greater thrust than its predecessor, enabling sustained operations at depths of up to 600 meters. The platform integrates a high-bandwidth fiber-optic tether for real-time video and sensor data, plus modular payload bays supporting magnetometers, chemical sensors and side-scan sonar. Designed for rapid deployment, Wraith can be assembled in under ten minutes and sustain eight hours of continuous operation on a single battery pack, addressing critical needs in subsea inspection, mine countermeasures and environmental monitoring.

Over the past month, AeroVironment has surged by 55.1%, outperforming its broader industry peer group. The rally follows a 22% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue, driven by new defense contracts totaling $120 million for unmanned systems across land, air and sea domains. Strategic partnerships, including a recent agreement with a major European naval force for Wraith deployments, have bolstered order backlogs and visibility into fiscal 2027. Investor optimism is further supported by a 15% expansion in international sales and a maintenence of a robust 30%-plus gross margin, underpinned by in-house manufacturing efficiencies and a lean R&D pipeline focused on next-generation autonomy.