AV Awarded Contract for Three Autonomous Helicopters in Support of NASA’s SkyFall Mission to Mars

AV Awarded Contract for Three Autonomous Helicopters in Support of NASA’s SkyFall Mission to Mars

AV partnering with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to unlock new research capabilities above and below the Martian surface ahead of a planned 2028 launch.

AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”), a global defense technology leader, today announced that its MacCready Works advanced solutions team has been awarded a contract for the co-design and co-manufacture of three Mars helicopters for NASA’s SkyFall mission with the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), taking the project from future concept to a formally funded Mars science mission and a path toward launch in late 2028.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260827821137/en/ AV's MacCready Works will design and develop three Mars helicopters for NASA's SkyFall mission, supporting a planned launch in late 2028. (Photo/AV)

SkyFall is the first mission to fly a team of three instrument-carrying helicopters on Mars, demonstrating a fully integrated system capable of autonomous atmospheric entry and powered descent.