AeroVironment to Provide Puma 3 AE, Raven Systems to USAF
AeroVironment has secured two orders from the United States Air Force (USAF) for Puma 3 AE unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and spares packages, as well as Raven UAS spares packages.
The orders total nearly $16 million. The order for the Puma 3 AE was placed and delivered in April, while the Raven UAS spares packages order was received a month later and is expected to be filled by November 2021.
AeroVironment vice president and product line general manager for small UAS Trace Stevenson said, “The combat-proven Puma 3 AE and Raven are versatile, rugged and reliable tactical unmanned aircraft systems designed to provide the United States Air Force Security Forces with the enhanced situational awareness and mission effectiveness they require when safeguarding bases.”
The Puma 3 AE and Raven UAS
The AeroVironment Puma 3 AE drone is designed to be deployed both in land-based and maritime operations. An all-environment system, it can land in water and on land.
The system is hand-launched, has a wingspan of 9.2 feet (2.8 meters), and weighs 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). It can fly and take photos for 2.5 hours on a single charge and has a standard antenna range of 12.4 miles (20 kilometers).
The Raven is a lightweight low-altitude remote-controlled system for surveillance, reconnaissance, gathering intelligence, and targeting data.
It has a wingspan of 4.5 feet (1.3 meters) and weighs 4.2 pounds (1.9 kilograms). The hand-launched system is capable of day and night operation at a range of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).
