AeroVironment will supply Puma 3 AE sUAS to two US-allied nations
Puma 3 AE provides tactical reconnaissance capabilities for land and maritime operations. (Photo: AeroVironment)
AeroVironment has received two firm-fixed-price US DoD FMS contracts worth $20.87 million.
AeroVironment announced on 20 September that the company has received two firm-fixed-price US DoD FMS contracts worth $20.868 million to provide Puma 3 All Environment (AE) small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to two unnamed allied nations.
The deal also comprises the supply of initial spares packages, training and contractor logistics support.
Although the details about the allied nations were not disclosed, the company pointed out that the customers are among the more than 50 allied governments employing AeroVironment’s UASs.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the Puma 3 AE sUAS is part of the inventory of armed Forces in New Zealand, Ukraine, UK, US and Uzbekistan.
Puma 3 AE SUAS is a multi-mission capable, rugged, low-cost, man-portable, easy-to-operate system which provides tactical reconnaissance capabilities for land and maritime operations.
It has a wingspan of 9.2ft (2.8 m), weighs 15.4lb (7kg) and can operate up to 37.2 miles (60km) with AeroVironment’s Long-Range Tracking Antenna.
Operators can easily and quickly swap Puma 3 AE’s payloads, selecting between the Mantis i45 and the enhanced night variant, Mantis i45 N. The sUAS is also launchable by hand, bungee, rail or vehicle and is recoverable by deep-stall landing.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![L3 Technologies awarded $587 million contract for next stage of new Growler jammer]()
L3 Technologies awarded $587 million contract for next stage of new Growler jammer
The Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB) is part of a larger NGJ system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.
-
![BAE Systems wins $4 million in DARPA cash for AI programme]()
BAE Systems wins $4 million in DARPA cash for AI programme
The challenges of getting artificial intelligence into a jet fighter’s cockpit have proved considerable to date. BAE Systems will take a machine-learning approach to the problem.
-
![Lockheed Martin and Tata sign Indian C-130J Super Hercules support agreement]()
Lockheed Martin and Tata sign Indian C-130J Super Hercules support agreement
India has a requirement for as many as 80 medium transport aircraft and the country already operates 12 C-130J aircraft.
-
![US Air Force tests the use of autonomous flying capabilities in austere, contested scenarios]()
US Air Force tests the use of autonomous flying capabilities in austere, contested scenarios
Technologies to remotely control aeroplanes were demonstrated in logistics missions during the AGILE FLAG 24-3 exercise.
-
![US approves more AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles for Singapore]()
US approves more AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles for Singapore
The approval of the sale of Raytheon (RTX) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Singapore follows similar approvals of the missile to Israel, Japan, Norway, Poland and Sweden in the past 12 months.
