Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2022	Oct. 30, 2021	Oct. 29, 2022	Oct. 30, 2021
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 111,584	$ 122,008	$ 220,100	$ 223,017
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales	85,694	79,553	160,496	151,839
Gross margin:
Total gross margin	25,890	42,455	59,604	71,178
Selling, general and administrative	23,613	24,819	45,556	51,947
Research and development	16,591	14,297	31,636	28,005
(Loss) income from operations	(14,314)	3,339	(17,588)	(8,774)
Other (loss) income:
Interest expense, net	(2,309)	(1,379)	(3,912)	(2,654)
Other income (expense), net	810	(10,048)	404	(10,394)
Loss before income taxes	(15,813)	(8,088)	(21,096)	(21,822)
Benefit from income taxes	(10,457)	(9,511)	(7,851)	(10,468)
Equity method investment (loss) income, net of tax	(1,273)	1,133	(1,773)	(8)
Net (loss) income	(6,629)	2,556	(15,018)	(11,362)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	39	31	45	94
Net (loss) income attributable to AeroVironment, Inc.	$ (6,668)	$ 2,525	$ (15,063)	$ (11,456)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to AeroVironment
Net (loss) income per share attributable to AeroVironment, Inc.-Basic	$ (0.27)	$ 0.10	$ (0.61)	$ (0.47)
Net (loss) income per share attributable to AeroVironment, Inc.-Diluted	$ (0.27)	$ 0.10	$ (0.61)	$ (0.47)
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	24,900,873	24,641,614	24,852,219	24,630,838
Diluted (in shares)	24,900,873	24,885,870	24,852,219	24,630,838
Product sales
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 62,343	$ 70,998	$ 120,317	$ 124,114
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales	39,445	38,937	72,344	71,527
Gross margin:
Total gross margin	22,898	32,061	47,973	52,587
Contract services
Revenue:
Revenue	49,241	51,010	99,783	98,903
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales	46,249	40,616	88,152	80,312
Gross margin:
Total gross margin	$ 2,992	$ 10,394	$ 11,631	$ 18,591