AeorVironment has just received $4.6 million from DARPA to develop Stealthy, Persistent, Perch and Stare UAS Based on Wasp. Yes, we scratched our heads at this too.

The Wasp is is an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that has a 29 inch wingspan and weighs about 1 pound. The Wasp can be operated manually or programmed to use GPS.

The press release states:

The goal of the Stealthy, Persistent, Perch and Stare program is to develop the technology to enable an entirely new generation of perch-and-stare micro air vehicles capable of flying to difficult targets, landing on and securing to a “perch” position, conducting sustained, perch-and-stare surveillance missions, and then re-launching from its perch and returning to its home base.

See the entire press release here.

Link via (The Register)