3/21/2018 AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma - Wikipedia

AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma

The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is a small, battery powered, American hand-launched unmanned aircraft system
RQ-20 Puma
produced by AeroVironment based in California. Primary mission is surveillance and intelligence gathering using an
electro-optical and infrared camera.

Contents
Design and development
Variants RQ-20A launch by US Marine; his hand gives
an idea of scale
Operators
Specifications Role Remote controlled UAS
See also Manufacturer AeroVironment
References First flight 2007
External links Introduction 2008[1]
Primary users United States Army
United States Marine Corps
Design and development United States Air Force
Previously selected for the United States Special Operations Command in 2008, in March 2012 the United States Army Number built 1,000+
ordered the Puma All Environment (AE) and designated it the RQ-20A.[2] In April, the United States Marine Corps and Unit cost $250,000+
United States Air Force placed a similar order for the RQ-20A.[3][4] Each military RQ-20A system has three air vehicles
and two ground stations.[2] The Puma AE can operate under extreme weather conditions including temperatures ranging from −20 to 120 °F (−29 to 49 °C), wind speeds up to
25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h), and an inch of rain per hour.[5]

On 26 July 2013, the Puma became one of the first unmanned aerial vehicles to be granted certification by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly in U.S. airspace for
commercial purposes. AeroVironment expects one to be deployed to Alaska to support oil spill response crews and count wildlife. The Puma can safely accomplish observation
missions in hazardous Arctic locations, which is safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than using manned aircraft. Commercial certification was the result of
previous military certification and the Congressionally-mandated opening of airspace over much of Alaska to small UAVs.[6] The FAA also certified the Boeing Insitu
ScanEagle, also planned to be deployed to Alaska. Only three individual Pumas were certified with strict requirements: only one aircraft of the type is allowed airborne at any
one time, they cannot fly through clouds or icing conditions, and they cannot take off or land during certain gust and wind conditions. The certifications did not mention line-
of-sight control.[7]

On 8 June 2014, the Puma AE made its first flight for BP in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, making it the first authorized unmanned commercial flight over land.[8]

The UK tested ISR packages compatible with the Puma AE on board the M80 Stiletto trials ship in November 2014 under Capability Demonstration 15-1.[9]

On 20 January 2016, a number of RQ-20 were captured by the Turkish army from the PKK. It is suspected that the Kurdish militants were able acquire these drones from
their Syrian affiliates.[10]

In August 2016, AeroVironment announced the U.S. Navy had tested and deployed the RQ-20B Puma aboard a Flight I Guided Missile Destroyer, which included the
company's Precision Recovery System to autonomously recover the aircraft aboard a ship. The Puma is also being utilized on Navy patrol craft in the Persian Gulf.[1]

Variants
RQ-20A Puma
Military designation for the Puma All Environment variant.
RQ-20B
Block 2 Puma AE, includes a more powerful and lighter propulsion system, lighter and stronger airframe, long endurance battery, precision
inertial navigation system an improved user interface, and the new, all environment Mantis i45 gimbal sensor suite.[1]
Solar Puma
Puma AE powered by ultra-thin solar cells that increases endurance to 9 hours.[11] Production version planned for early 2014.[12]
Enhanced Puma
Upgrade of the RQ-20A Puma AE with more powerful propulsion system and new batteries that increase endurance by 75 percent to 3.5
hours, auxiliary payload bay to integrate payloads while keeping the video camera, precision navigation system with secondary GPS, and a
redesigned durable fuselage with reinforced construction and improved aerodynamics. Available in early 2014.[13]
LRTA Puma
Puma AE upgraded with a long-range tracking antenna (LRTA) that extends range to 60 kilometers (37.28 miles). Available Spring 2018.[14]

Operators
Belgium

Belgian Army - U.S military systems of location in 2017[15]

Egypt

Egyptian Army - RQ-20B Puma AE II UAVs, delivery to be completed by 2020.[16][17]

United States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroVironment_RQ-20_Puma 1/2
3/21/2018 AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma - Wikipedia

United States Special Operations Command

United States Army – 325 systems, one per infantry company and 18 per brigade[18]
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
United States Air Force
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[19]

Specifications
Data from [20] Puma AE data sheet
General characteristics

Length: 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m)
Wingspan: 9 ft 2 in (2.8 m)
Max takeoff weight: 13 lb (5.9 kg)
Performance

Maximum speed: 52 mph; 45 kn (83 km/h)

Minimum control speed: 23 mph; 20 kn (37 km/h)
Range: 9 mi; 8 nmi (15 km)
Endurance: 2 hours

See also
List of unmanned aerial vehicles

References
1. US Navy deploying new RQ-20B AeroVironment Puma AE aboard Guided
Missile Destroyer (http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_conte
nt&task=view&id=4264) - Navyrecognition.com, 11 August 2016
2. U.S. Army Places $20.4 Million Order for AeroVironment RQ-20A Puma AE
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (http://investor.avinc.com/releasedetail.cfm?R
eleaseID=666018)
3. U.S. Marine Corps First to Procure Four Different AeroVironment Small
Unmanned Aircraft Systems with $5.5 Million RQ-20A Puma Order (http://investo
r.avinc.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=666019)
4. AeroVironment Scores Another Small UAS Success (http://www.ainonline.com/a
viation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2012-04-27/aerovironment-scores-another-
small-uas-success) - Ainonline.com, 27 April 2012
5. Puma unmanned craft tested on USS Gonzalez (http://www.upi.com/Business_N
ews/Security-Industry/2015/09/23/Puma-unmanned-craft-tested-on-USS-Gonzal
ez/1111443017790/) - Upi.com, 23 September 2015
6. AeroVironment's Puma becomes first UAV to earn FAA commercial certification
(http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aerovironments-puma-becomes-first-u
av-to-earn-faa-commercial-certification-388810/), FlightGlobal, 26 July 2013
7. FAA certifies two UAVs for commercial operations (http://www.flightglobal.com/ne
ws/articles/faa-certifies-two-uavs-for-commercial-operations-388810/),
FlightGlobal, 26 July 2013
8. Drone at Prudhoe Bay makes first FAA-authorized unmanned commercial flight
over land (https://archive.is/20140618101732/http://www.adn.com/2014/06/10/35
10648/drone-makes-first-us-commercial.html) - adn.com, 10 June 2014
10. http://m.milliyet.com.tr/pkk-siginaginda-iha-bulundu-gundem-2182198/
11. Allen McDuffee, "Launch This New 9-Hour Solar-Powered Drone from Your
Shoulder" (https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/08/new-9-hour-solar-powere
d-unmanned-aircraft-to-hit-market/), Wired, 13 August 2013
12. AeroVironment Solar-Powered Puma AE Small Unmanned Aircraft Achieves
Continuous Flight for More Than Nine Hours (http://www.suasnews.com/2013/08/
24501/aerovironment-solar-powered-puma-ae-small-unmanned-aircraft-achieves
-continuous-flight-for-more-than-nine-hours/) - sUASNews.com, 16 August 2013
13. AeroVironment Introduces Block Upgrade to Puma AE Unmanned Aircraft
System, Including 75 Percent Increase in Flight Duration (http://www.suasnews.c
om/2013/10/25658/aerovironment-introduces-block-upgrade-to-puma-ae-unman
ned-aircraft-system-including-75-percent-increase-in-flight-duration/) -
sUASNews.com, 21 October 2013
14. AeroVironment's PUMA AE UAS receives new antenna (https://armyrecognition.
com/dsei_2017_news_online_show_daily_coverage_report_u/dsei_2017_aerovir
onment_s_puma_ae_uas_receives_new_antenna.html) - Armyrecognition.com,
15 September 2017
15. http://www.air-cosmos.com/la-belgique-recourt-aux-mini-drones-puma-pour-l-
irak-93589
16. https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1468905/
17. https://www.avinc.com/resources/press-releases/view/aerovironment-awarded-
44.5-million-puma-ae-uas-contract-from-a-major-countr
18. Puma numbers (http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20130219.as
px) - Strategypage.com, February 19, 2013

9. Scott, Richard (26 October 2014). "Dstl plans unmanned ISR payload 19. [1] (http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/press/2013/pr062013.html) - NOAA
demonstration from Stiletto" (http://www.janes.com/article/45009/dstl-plans-unma National Marine Sanctuaries
nned-isr-payload-demonstration-from-stiletto). IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 20. Puma AE data sheet (http://www.avinc.com/downloads/PumaAE_0910.pdf)

External links
Media related to AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AeroVironment_RQ-20_Puma&oldid=830969356"

This page was last edited on 18 March 2018, at 00:14.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroVironment_RQ-20_Puma 2/2