AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma

Summary

Description

The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is characterized by its small size, battery-powered operation, and hand-launch capability, designed primarily for surveillance and intelligence gathering. Each military RQ-20A system includes three air vehicles and two ground stations, with the ability to function in temperatures ranging from −20 to 120 °F and wind speeds up to 25 knots, and it can withstand up to an inch of rain per hour. The drone is equipped with an electro-optical and infrared camera with a times-fifty optical zoom to live-stream video back to its ground station. The Enhanced Puma upgrade includes a more powerful propulsion system and new batteries increasing endurance to 3.5 hours, an auxiliary payload bay, precision navigation system with secondary GPS, and a redesigned fuselage. The RQ-20B includes a more powerful and lighter propulsion system, lighter and stronger airframe, long endurance battery, precision inertial navigation system and improved user interface, and the all environment Mantis i45 gimbal sensor suite.

In 2008, the RQ-20 Puma was selected for use by the United States Special Operations Command. By March 2012, the United States Army ordered the Puma All Environment (AE) variant, designating it as the RQ-20A. In April 2012, the United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force placed similar orders for the RQ-20A. On 26 July 2013, the Puma was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial flight within U.S. airspace. The Puma AE made its first commercial flight for BP in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on 8 June 2014, for authorized unmanned commercial flight over land. In August 2016, the U.S. Navy tested and deployed the RQ-20B Puma aboard a Flight I Guided Missile Destroyer, which included the company's Precision Recovery System for autonomous recovery aboard ships, with the Puma utilized on Navy patrol craft in the Persian Gulf. On 20 January 2016, RQ-20 units were captured by the Turkish army from the PKK. In April 2022, the United States included Puma drones in a $300 million military aid package to Ukraine. Reports indicate that Russian forces had shot down at least 10 of these drones by September 2023. The Puma has been globally deployed with the armed forces of Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Main Variants:

• RQ-20A Puma: The military designation for the Puma All Environment variant, indicating its suitability for diverse operational conditions.

• Enhanced Puma: An upgraded RQ-20A with a more powerful propulsion system and new batteries that increase endurance to 3.5 hours, an auxiliary payload bay, a precision navigation system with secondary GPS, and a redesigned durable fuselage.

• Solar Puma: A Puma AE variant powered by thin solar cells, designed to increase its endurance to nine hours.

• RQ-20B: Also known as the Block 2 Puma AE, this variant includes a more powerful and lighter propulsion system, a lighter and stronger airframe, a long endurance battery, a precision inertial navigation system and improved user interface, and the new, all environment Mantis i45 gimbal sensor suite.

• Puma LE (Long Endurance): Featuring an expanded battery that increases its operational endurance to 5.5 hours.

Technical specifications

All operators

Albania • Belgium • Canada • Costa Rica • Czech Republic • Germany • Denmark • Egypt • Spain • Estonia • France • United Kingdom • Greece • Latvia • Netherlands • Norway • New Zealand • Philippines • Sweden • Ukraine • United States