ReconRobotics, Inc. announced Feb. 15 that it had been awarded a $13.9 million contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command for 1,100 Recon Scout® XT micro-robot kits on behalf of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force. The largest order in the company’s history, it is also, in terms of the number of units, the largest micro-robot order ever issued by the U.S. Army. The company also announced two Rapid Equipping Force accessory orders totaling nearly $1 million. ReconRobotics plans to deliver the micro-robots and accessories by May 31, 2012.

“We are honored that the U.S. Army has once again chosen our Recon Scout XT system for their dismounted troops,” said Ernest Langdon, director of Military Programs for ReconRobotics. “Although these 1.2-pound robots are exceptionally small, they will play a big role in providing our warfighters with increased situational awareness and standoff distance as they conduct operations in active combat theaters.”

ReconRobotics has received U.S. military orders for 1,800 Recon Scout XT kits over the last six months. The Recon Scout XT system (robot and handheld Operator Control Unit) weighs just 3 pounds (1.3kg), and the robot can be deployed in five seconds and thrown up to 120 feet (36m). The XT is also exceptionally quiet and is equipped with an infrared optical system that allows the operator to explore an environment in complete darkness.