AeroVironment unveils Puma VTOL kit for small UAS
AeroVironment’s Puma VTOL kit enables rooftop launch and landing. (Photo: AeroVironment)
The VTOL kit allows the Puma 2AE and Puma 3AE UAS to operate in a wider range of terrains.
AeroVironment has announced the release of its Puma vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) kit, which can be integrated into Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE small UAS (SUAS) for vertical take-off and landing.
With the optional VTOL kit, the Puma system can operate in various terrains without needing a runway or large open space for launch and recovery.
The VTOL capability is operated through AeroVironment's Crysalis ground control solution, streamlining operations with features such as one-button launch and recovery and enabling a single operator to execute missions.
The Puma VTOL kit allows operators to quickly transition between fixed-wing and VTOL platforms to adapt to varying mission needs.
Integration of the kit requires minimal one-time modifications to the aircraft's airframe, AeroVironment said.
'Our new Puma VTOL kit provides the operator with a wider range of launch and land capabilities, enhancing the unit's mission while further safeguarding its personnel during these periods of transitional flight,' said Shane Hastings, AeroVironment's VP and product line GM for SUAS.
Once modified, the plug-and-play Puma VTOL kit can be easily added or removed in the field within a few minutes, allowing operators to transition between a fixed-wing and VTOL platform quickly.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Ireland signs $93 million deal for new utility helicopters]()
Ireland signs $93 million deal for new utility helicopters
Ireland is replacing its ageing EC135 aircraft but is boosting the capability provided with the addition of new sensors which is planned to even provide a light attack role.
-
![Is Chinese naval air power ready for action?]()
Is Chinese naval air power ready for action?
What role will the new jets and aircraft carriers of the People’s Liberation Army Navy play in Beijing’s wider fleet?
-
![Assessing Saab’s future as an independent combat aircraft developer]()
Assessing Saab’s future as an independent combat aircraft developer
Can Sweden’s Saab continue to go it alone in the fighter jet market, or could it boost its profile by forging new partnerships?
-
![JF-17 fighter fills expanding niche in a competitive geopolitical market]()
JF-17 fighter fills expanding niche in a competitive geopolitical market
With orders from three countries, 2024 is unlikely to be the last of the export years for the joint Pakistan-Chinese fighter jet.
