AVAV ▲ +2.0% - AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV WINS NASA CONTRACT FOR 3 MARS HELICOPTERS AeroVironment will help build three autonomous helicopters for NASA’s SkyFall mission, targeted to launch in late 2028. The aircraft are derived from Ingenuity, which completed 72 flights on Mars, and will carry ground-penetrating radar to map subsurface ice. Unlike Ingenuity, the three helicopters are designed to enter the Martian atmosphere, separate and land independently without a dedicated lander or rover. AeroVironment secured a NASA contract to develop three autonomous helicopters for the SkyFall mission launching in late 2028, which drove the stock up 2.0%. The helicopters represent an advancement over the company's successful Ingenuity design, adding capabilities like atmospheric entry and independent landing while carrying ground-penetrating radar for subsurface ice mapping. This contract win demonstrates AeroVironment's expansion in space exploration and validates its autonomous aircraft technology for government programs. 27-AUG-2026 12:06 PM ET