RQ-20A Puma
California-based AeroVironment has received from the US Army an order for the immediate delivery of RQ-20A Puma AE small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the US forces in Afghanistan. The system comprises three air vehicles and two ground control systems. The air vehicle carries an integrated electro-optical and infra-red gimballed video camera, is designed for enhanced survivability and can operate effectively in unfavourable weather. Weighing 13 pounds, the air vehicle is battery powered and has a two-hour flight endurance.
“The Puma AE system continues to provide critical force protection and force multiplication capabilities to the military at a fraction of the cost of larger manned and unmanned aircraft systems,” said Tom Herring, AeroVironment Senior Vice-President and General Manager of its UAS segment. AeroVironment has also announced the production and delivery of its 1,000th Puma AE air vehicle, reflecting the demand for the Puma AE system. In parallel, the US Air Force approved the Mission Design Series designation RQ-20A for the Puma AE UAS. This designation establishes the Puma system alongside AeroVironment’s RQ-11B Raven system as a designated military aircraft.
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) selected the Puma UAS in 2008 for its AECV program after a full and open competition, the fourth US Department of Defense competition for programs of record involving small UAS and the fourth such competition won by AeroVironment. In 2011, the United States Army assumed management of the AECV program.
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