AeroVironment is set to enhance its flagship Puma unmanned aerial system (UAS), equipping it with new software designed to improve reliability in contested and denied airspace.
In an announcement Thursday, the company said its Puma 3 AE and Puma LE drones will receive the software upgrade to elevate their battlefield effectiveness in electromagnetic environments.
The upgrade will enable the drones to maintain reliable navigation and mission performance in areas where GPS and other signals may be unreliable, degraded, or intentionally disrupted.
“The software-only upgrades ensure Puma UAS can continue mission-critical tasks autonomously and securely, reducing reliance on GPS and enhancing survivability in hostile areas,” AeroVironment stated.
Key Enhancements
AeroVironment revealed that the Puma 3 AE and LE drones will now have the Assured Position Navigation and Timing feature to offer improved navigational accuracy on modern battlefields.
It will also boast a high-performance visual navigation feature, providing an additional layer of spoofing detection and rejection.
Furthermore, the company said the new software will provide enhanced security for safe and robust communications in highly-contested environments.
It will also allow a 60-percent increase in Puma payload capacity to accommodate advanced multi-mission support systems.
“With these software enhancements, we’re reinforcing the adaptability and resilience of our Puma systems for the most demanding battlefield conditions,” AeroVironment’s VP for Uncrewed Systems Trace Stevenson noted.
“These capabilities allow warfighters to maintain operational superiority, even when adversaries attempt to disrupt critical systems, ensuring greater mission success and survivability.”
The company announced that all Puma drones to be produced will include the new software, while existing customers can opt to upgrade their UAS.
About the Puma UAS
The Puma AE is a lightweight UAS designed to deliver mission-critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in all environments.
It has a flight endurance of up to three hours and can be launched by hand, bungee, rail, or vehicle.
The Puma LE, meanwhile, is a heavier ISR drone with a payload capacity of 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms).
It can fly up to 6.5 hours and reach a distance of 60 kilometers (37 miles) in land and maritime environments when used with a long-range tracking antenna.