AeroVironment is poised to enhance its flagship Puma unmanned aerial system (UAS) by introducing a new software upgrade aimed at improving reliability in contested and denied airspace. In an announcement on Thursday, the company revealed that its Puma 3 AE and Puma LE drones will be equipped with this software to bolster their operational effectiveness in challenging electromagnetic environments.
The key advantage of the upgrade is its ability to allow the drones to maintain reliable navigation and mission performance even in areas where GPS and similar signals are unreliable, degraded, or intentionally disrupted. AeroVironment has emphasized that these software-only enhancements will enable the Puma UAS to execute mission-critical tasks autonomously and securely, thereby reducing dependence on GPS technology and enhancing survivability in hostile situations.
According to AeroVironment, the Puma 3 AE and LE drones will now integrate the Assured Position Navigation and Timing feature. This enhancement promises improved navigational accuracy, which is crucial for operations on modern battlefields. Additionally, the upgrade will introduce a high-performance visual navigation feature, offering extra layers of spoofing detection and rejection to further safeguard mission integrity.
Moreover, the new software is expected to strengthen security measures, facilitating safe and robust communications in highly contested environments. This upgrade will also enable a 60-percent increase in payload capacity for the Puma drones, allowing for the integration of advanced multi-mission support systems.
AeroVironment’s Vice President for Uncrewed Systems, Trace Stevenson, highlighted the significance of these enhancements, stating that they reinforce the adaptability and resilience of the Puma systems, which are designed to operate under the most demanding battlefield conditions. He noted that these capabilities empower warfighters to maintain operational superiority, even in the face of adversaries who may attempt to disrupt critical systems, thus ensuring greater mission success and overall survivability.
The company confirmed that all newly produced Puma drones will come equipped with the upgraded software, while existing customers will have the option to upgrade their UAS to benefit from these advancements.
The Puma UAS series is known for its lightweight design, with the Puma AE specifically tailored to deliver mission-critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across diverse environments. It boasts a flight endurance of up to three hours and offers versatile launch methods, including hand launches, bungee, rail, or vehicle deployment. The Puma LE, which is a heavier ISR variant, can carry a payload of 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms), allowing it to operate for up to 6.5 hours and cover distances of 60 kilometers (37 miles), especially when utilizing a long-range tracking antenna in both land and maritime settings.
