Local Co. Makes $200M Drone Deal — Crystal City-based AeroVironment has acquired California drone designer and manufacturer ESAero for $200 million in cash and stock, strengthening its capabilities in unmanned aerial systems increasingly used in global conflicts. The deal is AV’s second acquisition in less than a year. [WBJ]
AV Lasers on 60 Minutes — 60 Minutes featured AeroVironment and CEO Wahid Nawabi on a segment its Locust laser system, which destroys drones at a fraction of the cost of interceptor missiles. “The cost per shot goes from $4 million a shot to less than $5 a shot,” Nawabi said. The segment also revealed the Army is using the lasers to shoot down cartel drones along the Mexican border. [CBS News, 60 Minutes/X]
Sunrise at the Tomb — Arlington National Cemetery offered a rare sight Tuesday morning as the sunrise aligned perfectly with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marking the tomb’s 100th anniversary year. [Fox 5]
Sister City Mayor Leads — Incumbent Arnaud Robinet led the first of two rounds of voting in the election for mayor in Arlington’s Sister City of Reims, France, held March 15. Robinet, leading a center-right coalition, won 44% of the vote to National Rally candidate Anne-Sophie Frigout (21%) and Eric Quénard (18%), who led a center-left coalition. All three advance to the final round of voting on March 22. — Scott McCaffrey
D.C. Self-Driving Update — “As self-driving taxis, like Waymo, continue to be tested on D.C. Streets, DDOT is restarting a study to potentially give the vehicles a green light.” [NBC 4]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 42 degrees and light, variable winds shifting to the south at 6 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of around 31 degrees. [NWS]
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Flickr pool photo by Tom Mockler
