diff --git a/Tools/PrintVersion.py b/Tools/PrintVersion.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6b4d404c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tools/PrintVersion.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+'''
+Extract version information for the various vehicle types, print it
+'''
+
+import sys
+import re
+import os
+
+from optparse import OptionParser
+parser = OptionParser("print_version.py [options] ArduCopter|ArduPlane|APMrover2|AntennaTracker")
+
+(opts, args) = parser.parse_args()
+
+includefiles = {
+    "ArduCopter": "Copter.h",
+    "ArduPlane": "Plane.h",
+    "APMrover2": "Rover.h",
+    "AntennaTracker": "Tracker.h",
+}
+
+if len(args) > 0:
+    vehicle = args[0]
+    if vehicle not in includefiles:
+        print("Unknown vehicle (%s) (be in a vehicle directory or supply a vehicle type as an argument)" % (vehicle,))
+        sys.exit(1)
+    includefilepath="%s/%s" % (vehicle, includefiles[vehicle])
+else:
+    # assume we are in e.g. APM/APMrover2/
+    vehicle = os.path.basename(os.getcwd())
+    if vehicle not in includefiles:
+        print("Unknown vehicle (%s) (be in a vehicle directory or supply a vehicle type as an argument)" % (vehicle,))
+        sys.exit(1)
+    includefilepath = includefiles[vehicle]
+
+
+file = open(includefilepath)
+
+firmware_version_regex = re.compile(".*define +FIRMWARE_VERSION.*")
+firmware_version_extract_regex = re.compile(".*define +FIRMWARE_VERSION[	 ]+(?P<major>\d+)[ ]*,[ 	]*(?P<minor>\d+)[ ]*,[	 ]*(?P<point>\d+)[ ]*,[	 ]*(?P<type>[A-Z_]+)[	 ]*")
+
+for line in file:
+    if not firmware_version_regex.match(line):
+        continue
+    match = firmware_version_extract_regex.match(line)
+    if not match:
+        print("Failed to match FIRMWARE_VERSION line (%s)" % (line,))
+        sys.exit(1)
+    print("%d.%d.%d-%s" % (int(match.group("major")),
+                           int(match.group("minor")),
+                           int(match.group("point")),
+                           match.group("type")))