Ramona Adams
AeroVironment has begun to offer the newest version of its Puma small unmanned aircraft system designed to operate in rugged environments.
The company said Monday the Puma 3 UAS features an updated airframe that will support the use of the i45 electro-optical/infrared systems sensor suite with signals intelligence payloads.
David Sharpin, vice president of AeroVironment’s tactical UAS business, said that the company incorporated customer feedback into the new Puma aircraft, which showcases upgrades in air vehicle components and the capacity to carry third-party payloads and software applications.
Puma 3 also includes AeroVironment’s latest digital data link that aids secure operations in challenging radio frequency environments.
The UAS supports operations across M1, M2, M5, M3, M4 and M6 frequency bands, and with AES-256 encryption.
AeroVironment unveiled a new Puma smart battery that is designed to provide optimized efficiency and safety features.
The company is also working to update its RQ-11B Raven hand-launched UAS through the installation of new camera technology into the i23 gimbaled sensor.
