AeroVironment receives RQ-20B Puma AE II contract
AeroVironment has received a $3.2 million contract to provide the RQ-20B Puma AE II UAS, training and support to an allied nation in the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility.
The contract has been awarded under the US Department of Defense’s foreign military sales programme.
AeroVironment’s Puma all-environment UAS is designed for land-based and maritime operations. Capable of landing in water or on the ground, Puma, with its Mantis i45 sensor suite, provides the operator with extended flight time and an advanced imaging capability.
The UAS is equipped with both an electro-optical and infrared camera and illuminator. Its precision navigation system with secondary GPS ensures positional accuracy at up to 20km range. An optional under wing transit bay integrates third party payloads such as communication relay, geo-location or laser marker.
Delivery of the system is expected by end of March 2019.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
